Acer Ecology services

Badgers and their setts are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, which makes it illegal to kill, injure or take badgers or to interfere with a badger sett. Badgers are often affected by development projects and a licence from the statutory agency (Countryside Council for Wales or Natural England) is needed if disturbing work is planned close to an active sett, as well as for the exclusion, closure or destruction of a sett.

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) and the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) are industry quality standards that are used to assess the environmental performance of new and existing buildings.  BREEAM assessment methods cover a range of building types including offices, industrial buildings, schools and multi-residential developments. For new housing, the assessment process is known as the Code for Sustainable Homes. It is now mandatory for all new homes to be assessed using the Code.

In some situations a Phase 1 Habitat Survey may not be appropriate and instead a more detailed botanical survey may be required. Accurate descriptions of the vegetation and flora of a site are fundamental to the evaluation of its significance in relation to planning applications or site management. Our expert team will ensure that botanical survey and reporting is undertaken to the highest standards.

Protected species surveys are often required to support planning applications. Many animals and some plant species are legally protected and their presence on development projects can result in significant delays and increased costs. Our specialist team of ecologists collectively hold Countryside Council for Wales and Natural England survey licences for all the major protected species (badgers, bats, dormice, great crested newts, otter, water vole and white-clawed crayfish). We can advise you on the implications for your project if protected species are found to be present.

Bats and their roosting sites are fully protected under UK and European law and it is an offence to kill, injure, capture, or disturb them, or to damage, destroy or obstruct access to their roosts. Bat surveys generally consist of two stages, which applies to buildings, trees and other structures.