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DEFRA plans to mandate biodiversity net gain in new developments
30 Jan 2019
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs have recently published proposals that would require UK developers to assess the potential harm to habitats caused by their projects and to provide an overall improvement for biodiversity.
Roman snails: Relocation, Relocation
26 Sep 2018
Our Ecology team were recently contacted about a site in Hertfordshire where the neighbours had raised concerns over the possible presence of Roman snails, and the potential for it to be impacted through an extension to a building.
Consultant joins Ecology team
19 Apr 2018
We are pleased to welcome Consultant, Karl Fisher to the Ecology team. Karl will be based in the Leeds regional office.
The reptiles are finally thawing out…
22 Mar 2018
From the 1st March as the temperature increases, reptile survey season begins. Reptiles such as slow worms, grass snakes and the common lizard are European protected species, and protected by UK law.
Are the water voles moving to a burrow near you?
14 Mar 2018
The water vole is fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and is a priority conservation species. The water vole survey season begins in April through to September.
Badger Survey Information
09 Mar 2018
A badger survey is the initial step to identify a sett and assess the importance of a site for badgers, and this can be undertaken at any time of year. However, optimal badger bait marking study season starts in February.
Great Crested Newt Survey Information
05 Mar 2018
Great Crested Newt (GCN) are a European Protected Species, and surveys may be required for both on site and within up to 500m of a site if suitable terrestrial habitat connects to the water body, and the site itself supports suitable terrestrial habitat.
Nesting Bird Survey Season
22 Feb 2018
As part of obtaining planning permission, nesting bird survey reports and mitigation plans are needed for development projects that might affect protected species. These surveys need to show whether nesting birds are present in the area or nearby.
But is it Japanese knotweed…?
07 Nov 2017
With more and more horror stories rising to the surface about Japanese knotweed and its trail of destruction and costly consequences, it’s important to know that there are other less harmful plants that are commonly mistaken for the treacherous knotweed.