Protected species surveys

There are 18 species of bat in the UK. All bats use trees, hedges, woodland and watercourses to some extent and many use man-made structures as roosting sites. All bats are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) and Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. It is a criminal offence to disturb, take or destroy the roosting feature/habitat being used by a bat. Our ecologists are licenced by Natural England (NE) to survey roosts and assess bat populations.

• Initial survey – A survey design to identify potential roosting and habitat opportunities in buildings, trees and other structures and assess signs of bat activity. This survey will inform the ecologist if further surveys are required during the main survey season May to August
• Activity survey – Activity surveys (undertaken between May and August) are used to establish the type of bat roost (e.g. feeding or maternity) and the species of bat present. This information informs us as to whether mitigation measures to protect bats during development and a Natural England European Protected Species development licence are required.
• Natural England European Protected Species (EPS) Development Licence – Occasionally, where rare bats or significant roosts are present, a licence is required from Natural England prior to any development works to authorise the proposed mitigation and work plans. Our ecologists can help guide you through this process, providing expert advice on mitigation and enhancement.
• Wind turbine bat survey – Most wind turbine planning applications require a bat survey and mitigation plan to accompany them. The bat survey involves desktop studies, habitat assessment, transect surveys and remote detector surveys. The survey effort is proportionate to the scale of the wind farm and the associated risk.

There are three native species of newt in the UK. The terrestrial habitat is just as important as the aquatic habitat for newts. Great crested newts are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. It is considered a criminal offence to take, disturb or destroy a great crested newt or its habitat. Our ecologists are licenced by Natural England (NE) to survey great crested newt populations.

We offer the following surveys:

• Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) – This survey quantitatively assesses the suitability of a pond or waterbody and its terrestrial habitat for great crested newts and informs us whether further presence/population surveys are required.
• eDNA analysis – We offer an environmental DNA assessment of water bodies. This novel method allows a rapid assessment of water samples (taken between 15th April and 30th June) to test them for the presence of great crested newts within the pond. The data can provide a quick and cost-effective solution to determining the presence/absence of great crested newts on site.
• Presence / population survey – A survey carried out over six nights, to establish the presence and population size of great crested newts. The information is used to recommend mitigation to protect newts and their habitat during development/works and determine whether a Natural England European Protected Species Mitigation Licence is required.
• Natural England European Protected Species Development Licence - These licences are put in place to protect the species of concern, if a development is going to have a major impact on particular species. Our ecologists can help guide you through the process (if required), providing expert advice on mitigation and enhancement of a habitat or structure.

Otters have suffered badly in the past due to pollution and persecution; however they are now protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017.

Water voles are also endangered due to introductions of mink and habitat loss/degradation. They are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). It is an offence to disturb, take or kill these species as well as to disturb/damage their habitat. Therefore, both species are important considerations where development is proposed in close proximity to waterbodies. We offer the following surveys:

Otters - Surveys are undertaken to national standards to establish the presence or likely absence of this species. Mitigation and design of works can be used to protect and enhance the species and its habitat during development.

Water Voles – The surveys assess habitats for their suitability for water voles and search for signs of activity (such as feeding stations, latrines, burrows). Once presence is established, mitigation and habitat management can be planned to protect water voles during development works.

As one of the UK’s rarest mammals, the dormouse is now fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. The dormouse is elusive due to its nocturnal nature, small size, and specific habitat requirements.

• Nut search – A nut search is conducted to national guidelines and can provide information about the likely presence/absence of dormice.
• Nest tube – Erecting and monitoring nest tubes (in the active season of April to November) combined with a nut search is a reliable method for determining the presence/absence of dormice and provides information essential to design mitigation and habitat enhancement s to protect dormice.
• Nest search – A nest search may be conducted in the winter months for hibernation nests. This can confirm the presence of dormice at a site.

Native White Clawed Crayfish populations are threatened by competition and disease associated with the introduction and spread of other non-native crayfish species. White-clawed crayfish are a native British species, and their habitats are protected by national legislation from harm and/or disturbance.

This species frequently inhabits lakes, streams and rivers close to development sites, therefore appropriate surveys and mitigation are required to prevent a breach of legislation and to meet planning requirements. The optimum time to survey for crayfish is between July and September and surveys must be conducted during this period for planning purposes. Surveys conducted outside this period may not be acceptable to planning departments and regulators.

White-clawed crayfish facts:

• The white-clawed crayfish is protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act, the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 and the Bern Convention and is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species.
• It is the only native British crayfish species.
• The white-clawed crayfish is threatened by habitat loss, poor water quality, predation and diseases associated with non-native crayfish.
• Crayfish enter a type of hibernation, torpor, in winter.
• Females carry the eggs over winter under their tails. The eggs hatch and the young remain attached until June.
• Crayfish moult their shells to grow larger.

Our ecologists are experienced and licenced to conduct white clawed crayfish surveys with Natural England and CCW.

We offer the following (native) white-clawed crayfish surveys:

• Habitat assessment
• Presence/absence survey
• Population and disease monitoring
• Mitigation design

There are six native species of reptiles in Great Britain, two of which are European Protected Species - the smooth snake and the sand lizard. The other four reptiles are afforded protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). We offer the following surveys:

• Habitat suitability assessment - This survey establishes the habitat potential for reptiles, looking for features such as basking sites, hibernation sites and refugia.
• Presence/population survey – These surveys use national standards to establish the presence of species such as grass snake or slow worm. The information is used to design mitigation to protect reptiles during works and habitat enhancements.

Badgers and their homes (sets) are protected under the Badgers Act 1992. It is illegal to deliberately harm a badger while they are in their set. Badger surveys take place all year round and look for the presence of latrines, runs, day nests and sets. If any work is to be conducted within 30m of an active badger sett and it will disturb them, it will need a licence from Natural England to proceed.

We offer the following surveys:

• Presence surveys - Surveys are undertaken to establish the presence of badgers and the location of their setts and foraging habitats. This involves searching for signs such as footprints or hairs. The information is then used to prepare mitigation plans to protect badgers during proposed works and habitat enhancements.
• Bait marking surveys – each main sett is fed with peanuts and a distinctive coloured chip to ascertain the size and extent of a badger clan’s territory.