Legally Protected Species
BADGERS
Badgers (Meles meles) are protected against killing, injuring, and disturbance at sett as well as their setts. Badger surveys can be undertaken at any time of the year but bait marking is restricted to spring and autumn. A typical badger survey is carried out by an experienced ecologist who will search for signs of badger activity such as hairs, setts, pathways, snuffle holes, latrines, paw prints etc. Occasionally, it may be carried out at the same time as the initial ecological appraisal or phase one habitat survey. Setts may need to be monitored over a period of time to confirm activity.
A licence is required before the commencement of any development works that are conducted near an active sett as it is an offence to disturb badgers whilst occupying a sett and to disturb or damage an active sett. Development licences are granted by Natural England when appropriate information (such as status, location and use of any setts that will be affected by the works) are provided together with proposed mitigation measures. Mitigation measures are numerous and can include habitat enhancement for badgers as part of the landscaping proposals, use of badger corridors and badger fencing.
BATS
All UK-native bats (Chiroptera) are highly protected species being European Protected Species. Any development that could impact bats requires an appropriate bat survey to be carried out as part of the ecological assessment. Typically, a bat survey will include an internal survey or bat emergence surveys or bat activity survey (also called 'dusk survey') and a dawn survey (or 'pre-dawn survey'). These bat surveys will aim to assess the presence of bats within bat roosting structures such as buildings, bridges and trees.
PJC Ecology carries out a number of bat surveys including:
Day-time bat surveys which include an initial habitat assessment (assessment of the potential of the site to support roosting, commuting and foraging bats) and visit/inspect all potential bat roosting structures. Dusk surveys: To assess species and numbers of bats leaving potential roosting sites. Dawn surveys: To assess bats swarming or returning to potential roosting structures. Bat activity surveys: To evaluate the commuting and foraging activities of bats. Underground site surveys and tree surveys: To assess these for bat roosting potential.
All our surveys are undertaken by experienced bat surveyors with at least one Natural England bat licence holder on site each time. Specific in-house training is provided to our ecologists and the equipment used by our ecological consultants include bat detectors (Bat Box), recording devises, endoscopes and bat sound analysis software.
A development bat licence granted from Natural England is required before the commencement of any development that might impact on bats or their roosts. PJC would apply for a licence and propose a detailed mitigation strategy for the site, involving provisions of alternative bat roosting sites and commuting and foraging grounds for the future. Among the bat mitigation strategies can be listed the erection of bat boxes to a dedicated bat attic in a building or a purpose built bat roost. Mitigations strategies for foraging and/or commuting bats may include the retention of vegetation in-situ or the addition of a planted scheme within landscaping proposals.
DORMICE
The hazel dormouse or common dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) are legally protected under national and European law and are European Protected Species. Any development that could impact on dormice or their habitats requires an appropriate dormouse survey to be carried out as part of the ecological assessment. Dormouse surveys are undertaken following best practice in ecology. They are seasonally-constrained, and can take up to six month to be completed over the summer and the autumn.
Dormouse surveys can include the use of nest tubes, hair tubes, nest boxes, with hazel nut and nest searches also undertaken.
All our surveys are undertaken by experienced dormouse surveyors (Natural England handling dormouse licence holders).
A development licence is required before the commencement of any development that might impact on dormice or dormouse habitats. PJC would apply for a licence to undertake sensitive works and provide a mitigation strategy applicable to individual sites.
GREAT CRESTED NEWT
The great crested newt Triturus cristatus is UK's largest newt. It is highly protected and is a European Protected Species therefore assessing its presence or likely absence on a proposed site for development is crucial as part of an ecological appraisal and for an ecological impact assessment.
Great crested newt surveys are undertaken during the breeding season to assess the presence or likely absence of great crested newts (GCN) on and within 500m radius of a proposed site for development. A great crested newt survey requires four survey visits that are undertaken by at least two surveyors, including a Natural England licensed holder. Two additional survey visits are needed to evaluate the population size when great crested newts are confirmed to be present within the surveyed area.
The presence of GCNs on or within 500m of a site may constrain development therefore they should be considered in the planning process. Mitigation will need to be designed to avoid affecting the local GCN population.
Development of a site where great crested newts may occur can be made legal by the granting of an appropriate Natural England licence that PJC would apply for on the behalf of the client. Mitigation, once allowed by Natural England, could include the setting of a newt exclusion fence around the site, where pit-fall trapping could be undertaken and newts would be relocated in suitable place(s) outside of the works area (species translocation). Habitat enhancements would be part of the on-site mitigations for great crested newts and should be included in the landscaping proposals.
OTTERS
European or Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) are semi-aquatic mammals and are largely nocturnal. They are fully protected by UK and European law.
Otter surveys are undertaken at any time of the year by an experienced ecologist. The surveyor will search for otter signs such as footprints, slides, couches and spraints (droppings). European Protected Species (EPS) licence is required for checking holts or for carrying out work that may disturb otters. Licences must be issued prior to commencement of works. Mitigation measures must be designed. As otters can breed at any time of year, there is no preferred time within the year to undertake development works in order to avoid/limit disturbance of local otters. However if otters are found breeding on site, works may have to be delayed.
RED SQUIRRELS
The red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is the only native squirrel in Britain. In Britain, its preferred habitat is woodland with a high proportion of coniferous trees but it can also be found in gardens, parks and hedgerows in Europe. The loss and fragmentation of available habitat, a disease (due to the Parapox virus) and the introduction of the grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) has caused a decline on their population. Red squirrels are protected animals.
Red squirrel surveys are undertaken in the UK within the limited geographical range of the species. There are a few red squirrel survey techniques such as hair tubes and feeding transects. Additionally, the ecologist will also look for signs of squirrel activity such as drey (nests) and feeding remains.
A development licence should be applied for prior development works start if these are likely to affect red squirrels and/or their sheltering places and habitats.
REPTILES
There are six native reptile species in the UK: four widespread, grass snake (Natrix natrix), slow-worm (Anguis fragilis), common lizard (Zootoca vivipara) and adder (Vipera berus) and two much rarer, smooth snake (Coronella austriaca) and sand lizard (Lacerta agilis). The four common reptile species are protected by national law under several offences such as killing and injuring and are commonly encountered during development. The two rarer species receive full protection under the UK and European law.
Reptile surveys are seasonally constrained to spring, summer and autumn and depend of weather conditions. Typically a reptile survey is undertaken by experienced ecologists using artificial refugia (e.g. roofing felts & tins) optimally in April, May and September when the chances of sightings are greatest.
A European Protected Species (EPS) licence issued by Natural England will be required for works liable to affect the rarer reptile species. It should be noted that, although not licensable, appropriate mitigation measures need to be implemented to prevent the intentional killing or injury of the four common reptile species (adder, grass snake, common lizard and slow worm). Mitigation for common reptile species typically involves the setting of a reptile-exclusion fence in target areas, followed by trapping and translocation of caught animals to suitable receptor sites. PJC can undertake all of the above works.
WATER VOLES
The water vole (Arvicola terrestris) is the largest of Britain's native vole. It is protected under the UK law as its national population has declined over the past century due to habitat fragmentation, pollution, river canalisation but also due to the predation by American mink (Mustela vison).
Typically, a water vole survey will be undertaken by an experienced ecologist during the breeding season who will look for water vole field signs such as droppings and latrines, burrows, grazed lawns around burrow entrances and feeding remains.
Water voles are protected by law and it is an offence to damage water vole burrows or kill/injure individuals. Mitigation strategies must be designed prior the works to avoid committing an offence.
BIRD SURVEYS
All wild birds native to the UK (including migratory species) are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and cannot be killed, injured or taken except under licence. Nesting and breeding birds are also protected under the Act which makes it an offence to recklessly kill, injure or take any wild bird or take, damage or destroy its nest whilst it is in use or being built, or to take or destroy its eggs. The breeding bird season is considered to be from March to August, however this does vary between species and will be affected by weather conditions. There are several types of bird surveys that can be undertaken; breeding bird surveys, winter bird surveys, specialist bird surveys such as barn owls and migrant birds.
PJC has experience in all types of bird surveys and can undertake all of the above works.