Ecological Survey and Assessment Services

These broadly fall into the following areas:
Ecological Planning and Development
Our experience covers every aspect of ecological planning and development, from initial project conception to construction and consequent monitoring, including:

• Scoping and feasibility: we can carry out desk and field-based surveys to identify any potential issues and constraints for development sites and highlight options to overcome these.
• Ecological and Hydrological Impact Assessments: our team is experienced in carrying out assessments for inclusion in Environmental Statements to accompany Planning Applications. We can also offer legal and planning advice, and respond to planning conditions and Section 106 agreements.
• Mitigation and licensing: we offer a wealth of experience in devising and implementing specialist mitigation schemes to protect or compensate for habitat loss as a result of development projects in line with best practice. Our services include: long-term monitoring schemes, species translocation, habitat creation and Ecological Clerk of Works. We aim to provide a comprehensive approach that ensures species protection in the context of development size and remit.
• Public Inquiry: we have provided a number of expert witness services at Public Inquiries on behalf of clients. Our experienced witnesses have provided evidence to over 30 public inquiries.

Protected Species Assessment, Mitigation and Licensing
A large amount of our work involves protected species, as they are often material in planning terms. This ranges from surveys, analysis and assessments to licensing and mitigation. Our experience covers a range of species including bats, reptiles and amphibians, water voles and otters, dormice, red squirrels, badgers, breeding and wintering birds and freshwater invertebrates, such as the freshwater pearl mussel and white-clawed crayfish.
Habitat Assessment and Monitoring

An essential part of planning detailed ecological investigation is the understanding of the habitats present on a site and their potential interests. Our team of ecologists are experts at identifying important habitats such as Biodiversity Action Plan habitats, and at assessing the need for further survey. We bring the same expertise to our work in developing Habitat Management Plans and medium to long term habitat monitoring schemes.

Ornithology
Ornithological studies are planned and managed by our ornithology team throughout the UK, with current casework involving a range of proposed or completed developments, from hydro schemes to wind farms.

As part of our service we provide detailed site and species-specific surveys, to quantify breeding and non-breeding bird populations and/or assess bird behaviour and flight activity.

Once surveys have been completed the ornithological data we collect is used to inform statutory bodies (such as SNH or Natural England) of the potential impact a development may have on species identified during our surveys. This data may, depending on the scale of a development, be presented within an Environmental Statement as part of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).