Ecology

Water Vole surveys

It is an offence to harm water voles and to damage, destroy or obstruct their sheltering or breeding places.

If you are planning works near a watercourse, you may need a water vole survey to inform the need or otherwise for water vole mitigation. Surveys can be carried out between April and October, and should include one survey during mid-April to the end of June, and a second survey during July to September (inclusive).

If water voles are present and it is not possible to avoid impacting them or their habitats, a conservation licence will be required from the statutory body prior to works commencing.

Contact us now with any ecology queries: Claire Munn, Principal Ecologist: claire@davidarcherassociates.co.uk

Our ecological consulting services

PEA

Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA)

A PEA provides an initial overview of how the proposed development might impact legally protected wildlife habitats and biodiversity.

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HRA

Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA)

We can provide ecological information reports to support all stages of the Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) for both development projects and local plans.

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Bat surveys

Bat surveys

Bats and their roosts are legally protected, so we recommend carrying out a Preliminary Roost Assessment (scoping bat survey) of trees, buildings and structures that proposed works may impact.

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Dormice surveys

Dormice surveys

If you're proposing works in areas and habitats known to lie within the dormouse range, you may need a presence/likely absence survey to show how you’ll manage any harmful effects on this protected species.

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ECIA

Ecological Impact assessment

An EcIA can be a stand-alone document for any planning application and can help identify any significant ecological impacts on the development project.

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Great Crested Newt surveys

Great Crested Newt surveys

Great crested newts and their habitats are legally protected. These creatures can travel up to 500m from their breeding ponds, so a great crested newt survey should be undertaken when water bodies are nearby.

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Reptile surveys

Reptile surveys

The more widespread reptile species are legally protected. If you’re conducting work that may impact reptiles, you’ll likely need presence / likely absence and population assessment surveys.

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Nesting birds

Nesting bird surveys

If you’re building at a location and time of year when birds may be nesting, we can conduct a nesting bird survey to find out if active nests are present.

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Badger surveys

Badger surveys

If you’re planning works within the vicinity of a confirmed or potential badger sett or in a habitat that is suitable for badger setts to be present, it’s worth contacting us for advice.

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Water vole surveys

Water Vole surveys

If you’re planning works near a watercourse, you may need a water vole survey to assess how they will be impacted. Water vole surveys can be carried out between April and October.

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ECOW

Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW)

We can provide you with an Ecological Clerk of Works service, and field ecologists are on hand to help ensure that your building works stay legally compliant and wildlife habitats aren’t impacted.

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