Ecology

Bat Surveys

There are seventeen species of bats in England. All bats depend on trees at a number of different levels – some roost in trees, many use woodland for foraging, and trees and treelines are also used as flight lines. Some of our rarest bats roost in trees. They and their roosts are protected under UK and European legislation making it illegal to kill, injure, or disturb bats, or to damage, disturb or obstruct access to bat roosts.

Local planning authorities are required to take account of the presence of bats as a material consideration when determining planning applications and it is advisable for developers to investigate the presence of bats at an early stage in the development process. Survey results need to be available to planning officers to enable determination of a planning application.

Our ecological consultant can advise on this issue and undertakes surveys using recordable bat detectors and sound analysis tools. The image below is a spectrogram displaying the echolocation signals of two species of pipistrelle. The Common Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) is echolocating at 45kHz and the Soprano Pipistrelle (P. pygmaeus) at 55kHz.

 

The image below confirms the peak frequency of the Soprano pipistrelle at 55kHz

Extended Phase 1 Habitat Surveys

Usually the first stage in assessing the ecological significance of a potential development site. Target notes will identify any potentially significant areas which may require detailed ecological investigation.

National Vegetation Classification (NVC) Surveys

This system of classifying plant communities can lead on from an extended phase 1 habitat survey if potentially sensitive communities are identified. Additionally it can form the basis of a detailed woodland management plan.

Ecological Surveys & Reports For EcoHomes Credits

The EcoHomes scheme run by The Building Research Establishment (BRE)offers financial incentives for developments designed to produce a low environmental impact. Ecology & Land use is one of the seven categories included in the EcoHomes assessment. Credits are awarded when a proposed development can meet various criteria and our ecological consultant undertakes surveys which can assist in attaining credits based on a number of ecological factors, including:

Eco 1. Ecological value of the site (1 available credit)
Eco 2. Ecological enhancement (1 available credit)
Eco 3. Protection of ecological features (1 available credit)
Eco 4. Change of ecological value of site (4 available credits)