Archive for August, 2011
Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011
Ivy covered wall. A potential habitat for breeding birds.
UES have completed a breeding bird survey of a site in Knutsford, Cheshire in order to meet planning conditions. A breeding bird survey involves recording bird activity that is likely to indicate breeding. Behaviour considered likely to indicate breeding includes singing, display flights, mating and courtship displays, nesting, carrying of nesting material and birds showing fidelity to a particular area of ground or vegetation.
Breeding bird surveys and vegetation searches were carried out on site. 18 species of bird were heard or seen on or local to site but no evidence of breeding birds within the site boundary was found. Wren was recorded singing on site and could possibly of been breeding. Suitable habitats would include mature trees and/or an Ivy covered wall on site.
Other species heard or seen on or local to site included Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Siskin, Cormorant, Pied wagtail, Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Robin, Goldcrest, Carrion crow, Song thrush, Jackdaw, Magpie, Blue tit, Nuthatch, Coal tit and Dunnock.
Tags: aerial tree inspection, aerial tree inspections, barn conversion, barn demolition, barn modification, barn owl, barn owls, barn removal, bird, bird box fitting, bird boxes, bird survey, bird survey Cheshire, bird surveys, bird surveys Cheshire, birds, BREEAM, breeding bird, breeding bird activity surveys, breeding bird building inspection, breeding bird building survey, breeding bird building surveys, breeding bird ecological survey, breeding bird ecological surveys, breeding bird field survey, breeding bird licence, breeding bird population, breeding bird scoping survey, breeding bird scoping surveys, breeding bird survey, breeding bird survey Bedfordshire, breeding bird survey Buckinghamshire, breeding bird survey Cambridgeshire, breeding bird survey Cheshire, breeding bird survey Chester, breeding bird survey Congleton, breeding bird survey Crewe, breeding bird survey Derbyshire, breeding bird survey Ellesmere Port, breeding bird survey Flintshire, breeding bird survey Halton, breeding bird survey Herefordshire, breeding bird survey Hertfordshire, breeding bird survey Knutsford, breeding bird survey Lancashire, breeding bird survey Leicestershire, breeding bird survey Lincolnshire, breeding bird survey Macclesfield, breeding bird survey Manchester, breeding bird survey Merseyside, breeding bird survey Nantwich, breeding bird survey north west, breeding bird survey Northamptonshire, breeding bird survey Northwich, breeding bird survey Nottinghamshire, breeding bird survey Oxfordshire, breeding bird survey Runcorn, breeding bird survey Shropshire, breeding bird survey Staffordshire, breeding bird survey Vale Royal, breeding bird survey Warwickshire, breeding bird survey Wilmslow, breeding bird survey Winsford, breeding bird survey Wirral, breeding bird survey Worcestershire, breeding bird survey Wrexham, breeding bird survey Yorkshire, breeding bird surveyor, breeding bird surveys, breeding bird surveys north west, breeding birds, breeding birds Cheshire, code for sustainable homes, CSH, demolition, ecological assessment, ecological assessment survey, ecological consultancy, ecological consultancy Cheshire, ecological consultant, ecological consultant Cheshire, ecological consultant north west, ecological management, ecological survey, ecological survey Cheshire, ecological surveys, ecological surveys Cheshire, ecology report, ecology report Cheshire, ecology reports, environment assessment, environment assessment survey, european protected species licence, extended phase 1 survey, hedgerow removal, hedgerow survey, Natural England, nesting bird, nesting birds, planning permission, protected species survey, protected species survey Cheshire, protected species surveys, scrub clearance, tree removal, tree survey, wildlife and countryside act 1981, wind turbine survey
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Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011
At the beginning of August Toby attended a week-long professional development course on grasses, sedges and rushes run by Judith Allison at Malham Tarn in the Yorkshire Dales.
Malham Tarn NNR is designated a Grade 1 SSSI by Natural England and is an excellent place to study grasses, sedges and rushes due to the diversity of habitats found there, including heather, moorland, peat bogs, limestone grassland and limestone pavement, ash and oak woodland, high altitude fens and calcareous flushes. Malham Tarn also boasts that one third of the c.107 British members of the sedge family (Cyperaceae) can be seen within walking distance.
Toby encountered over 50 different species of grasses, sedges and rushes in the field. The trip proved to be a great experience and a real help to identifying different species of grasses, sedges and rushes.
Images of species encountered can be seen at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tobyhart/sets/72157627445592338/
Tags: BREEAM, code for sustainable homes, continued professional development, CSH, ecological assessment, ecological assessment survey, ecological consultancy, ecological consultancy Cheshire, ecological consultant, ecological consultant Bedfordshire, ecological consultant Buckinghamshire, ecological consultant Cambridgeshire, ecological consultant Cheshire, ecological consultant Derbyshire, ecological consultant Flintshire, ecological consultant Herefordshire, ecological consultant Hertfordshire, ecological consultant Lancashire, ecological consultant Leicestershire, ecological consultant Lincolnshire, ecological consultant Manchester, ecological consultant Merseyside, ecological consultant north west, ecological consultant Northamptonshire, ecological consultant Nottinghamshire, ecological consultant Oxfordshire, ecological consultant Shropshire, ecological consultant Staffordshire, ecological consultant Warwickshire, ecological consultant Worcestershire, ecological consultant Yorkshire, ecological management, ecological survey, ecological survey Cheshire, ecological survey Chester, ecological survey Congleton, ecological survey Crewe, ecological survey Ellesmere Port, ecological survey Halton, ecological survey Knutsford, ecological survey Macclesfield, ecological survey Nantwich, ecological survey Northwich, ecological survey Runcorn, ecological survey Vale Royal, ecological survey Wilmslow, ecological survey Winsford, ecological survey Wirral, ecological survey Wrexham, ecological survey Yorkshire, ecological surveys, ecological surveys Cheshire, ecology report, ecology report Cheshire, ecology reports, environment assessment, environment assessment survey, european protected species licence, extended phase 1 survey, field studies council, grasses, malham tarn, Natural England, planning permission, protected species survey, protected species survey Cheshire, protected species surveys, rushes, sedges, wildlife and countryside act 1981
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Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011
Great crested newt larvae
UES were commissioned in June 2011 to conduct a great crested newt pond scoping survey to assess potential presence of great crested newts within 250m of the development footprint.
Development works within 250m of a great crested newt pond are often subject to a Natural England European Protected Species Licence (EPSL). It is stressed by Natural England to try and redesign a project to remove any potential impacts on great crested newt populations and associated habitats in order to remove the need for licensing.
The field methods used to survey ponds are:
- Bottle trapping
- Egg search
- Torch surveys
- Netting
Natural England recommend using at least three of the methods outlined above when conducting a pond survey. Smooth newts and great crested newt eggs and larvae were found in ponds within 250m of the development.
UES proposed that by designing the project timings and working methods to avoid impacts, any potential impacts on local great crested newt populations and habitats could be effectively removed, or reduced to a negligible level thereby removing the need for protected species licensing.
Tags: amphibian fencing, amphibian survey, amphibian surveys, BREEAM, code for sustainable homes, CSH, ecological assessment, ecological assessment survey, ecological consultancy, ecological consultancy Cheshire, ecological consultant, ecological consultant Cheshire, ecological consultant north west, ecological management, ecological survey, ecological survey Cheshire, ecological surveys, ecological surveys Cheshire, ecology report, ecology report Cheshire, ecology reports, environment assessment, environment assessment survey, european protected species licence, extended phase 1 survey, GCN, GCN Cheshire, GCN survey, GCN survey Cheshire, GCN surveys, GCN surveys Cheshire, great crested newt, great crested newt bottle trapping, great crested newt Cheshire, great crested newt ecological survey, great crested newt ecological surveys, great crested newt egg search, great crested newt licence, great crested newt mitigation, great crested newt netting survey, great crested newt population size class assessment, great crested newt presence / absence survey, great crested newt presence / absence surveys, great crested newt survey, great crested newt survey Bedfordshire, Great crested newt survey Buckinghamshire, great crested newt survey Cambridgeshire, great crested newt survey Cheshire, great crested newt survey Chester, great crested newt survey Congleton, great crested newt survey Crewe, Great crested newt survey Derbyshire, great crested newt survey Ellesmere Port, great crested newt survey Flintshire, great crested newt survey Halton, great crested newt survey Herefordshire, great crested newt survey Hertfordshire, great crested newt survey Knutsford, great crested newt survey Lancashire, Great crested newt survey Leicestershire, great crested newt survey Lincolnshire, great crested newt survey Lower Peover, great crested newt survey Macclesfield, great crested newt survey Manchester, Great crested newt survey Merseyside, great crested newt survey Nantwich, Great crested newt survey Northamptonshire, great crested newt survey Northwich, great crested newt survey Nottinghamshire, great crested newt survey Oxfordshire, great crested newt survey Runcorn, Great crested newt survey Shropshire, Great crested newt survey Staffordshire, great crested newt survey Vale Royal, Great crested newt survey Warwickshire, great crested newt survey Wilmslow, great crested newt survey Winsford, great crested newt survey Wirral, great crested newt survey Worcestershire, great crested newt survey Wrexham, great crested newt survey Yorkshire, great crested newt surveys, great crested newt surveys Cheshire, great crested newt torch survey, great crested newt trapping and relocation, Natural England, newt fencing, newt survey, newt surveys, planning permission, pond monitoring, pond survey, pond surveys, population size class assessment, presence / absence survey, presence / absence surveys, protected species survey, protected species survey Cheshire, protected species surveys, trapping and relocation, wildlife and countryside act 1981
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Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011
UES have now spotted 72 species of macro-moth so far during monitoring surveys, including the Lime-speck pug moth. Moths with narrow outstretched wings are ‘usually’ pug moths, members of the Eupithecia family.
The Lime-speck pug is very distinctive with its lime white wings and large dark ‘speck’ on the leading edge of wing. It is thought that this species may resemble a bird-dropping and thus reduce attraction to predators.
Other species observed recently include Dark arches, Flame carpet, Small phoenix, Buff arches, Buff tip, Common wainscot, Early thorn, Light arches, Riband wave, The Clay and The Olive moth.
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Buff arches (Habrosyne pyritoides)
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Buff tip (Phalera bucephala)
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Common wainscot (Mythimna pallens)
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Dark arches (Apamea monoglypha) and Acleris forsskaleana
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Early thorn (Selenia dentaria)
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Flame carpet (Xanthorhoe designata)
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Light arches (Apamea lithoxylaea)
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Lime-speck pug (Eupithecia centaureata)
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Riband wave (Idaea aversata)
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Small phoenix (Ecliptopera silaceata)
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The Clay (Mythimna ferrago)
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The Olive (Ipimorpha subtusa)
Tags: Buff arches, Buff tip, Common wainscot, Dark arches, Early thorn, ecological assessment, ecological assessment survey, ecological consultancy, ecological consultancy Cheshire, ecological consultant, ecological consultant Bedfordshire, ecological consultant Buckinghamshire, ecological consultant Cambridgeshire, ecological consultant Cheshire, ecological consultant Derbyshire, ecological consultant Flintshire, ecological consultant Herefordshire, ecological consultant Hertfordshire, ecological consultant Lancashire, ecological consultant Leicestershire, ecological consultant Lincolnshire, ecological consultant Manchester, ecological consultant Merseyside, ecological consultant north west, ecological consultant Northamptonshire, ecological consultant Nottinghamshire, ecological consultant Oxfordshire, ecological consultant Shropshire, ecological consultant Staffordshire, ecological consultant Warwickshire, ecological consultant Worcestershire, ecological consultant Yorkshire, ecological management, ecological survey, ecological survey Cheshire, ecological survey Chester, ecological survey Congleton, ecological survey Crewe, ecological survey Ellesmere Port, ecological survey Halton, ecological survey Knutsford, ecological survey Macclesfield, ecological survey Nantwich, ecological survey Northwich, ecological survey Runcorn, ecological survey Vale Royal, ecological survey Wilmslow, ecological survey Winsford, ecological survey Wirral, ecological survey Wrexham, ecological surveys, ecological surveys Cheshire, ecology report, ecology report Cheshire, ecology reports, environment assessment, environment assessment survey, european protected species licence, extended phase 1 survey, Flame carpet, Light arches, monitoring survey, moth, moth monitoring survey, moths, national moth recording scheme, Natural England, NMRS, planning permission, protected species survey, protected species survey Cheshire, protected species surveys, Riband wave, Small phoenix, The Clay, The Olive, wildlife and countryside act 1981
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Monday, August 15th, 2011
This year UES has been involved with A Fresh Start For Hens, a national organisation which relies on volunteers to help distribute and rehome ex-battery hens. Hens are purchased from farmers just before their slaughter date (around 1 year old), when their production drops below the 6 eggs per week that is required to make them commercially profitable.
UES has been appointed the Cheshire Co-ordinator for A Fresh Start For Hens and rehomed 60 ex-battery hens at the end of July. Battery hens are raised in tiny cages no bigger than a sheet of A4 paper, which prevents them from opening their wings and suppresses all of their natural instincts. However, through A Fresh Start For Hens and volunteers such as UES these ex-battery hens become lively engaging creatures within days of release.
Tags: a fresh start for hens, Cheshire, chickens, ex battery hens, re-homing chickens
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Monday, August 15th, 2011
Fitting a bat box
UES have completed a bat presence/absence survey at a site in Cheshire. Our client intended to demolish a building and so a bat survey was required in order to inform the planning process.
The building was searched internally and externally for signs of use by bats, and emergence and return roost surveys were carried out. The surveys found bats roosting in the boxed soffits of the building and also under the roof and ridge tiles.
UES recommended that a licensed bat ecologist be present during the demolition in case any bats were found within the building. During demolition a male pipistrelle was found roosting under the roof tiles and so was carefully rehomed to a new bat box that UES had positioned on site.
Tags: aerial tree inspection, aerial tree inspections, barn conversion, bat, bat activity survey, bat activity surveys, bat box fitting, bat boxes, bat building inspection, bat building survey, bat building surveys, bat Cheshire, bat ecological survey, bat ecological surveys, bat field survey, bat licence, bat presence / absence survey, bat presence / absence surveys, bat roost, bat roost survey, bat roost surveys, bat scoping survey, bat scoping surveys, bat survey, bat survey Bedfordshire, bat survey Buckinghamshire, bat survey Cambridgeshire, Bat survey Cheshire, bat survey Chester, bat survey Congleton, bat survey cranage, bat survey Crewe, bat survey Derbyshire, bat survey Ellesmere Port, bat survey Flintshire, bat survey Halton, bat survey Herefordshire, bat survey Hertfordshire, bat survey Knutsford, bat survey Lancashire, bat survey Leicestershire, bat survey Lincolnshire, bat survey Macclesfield, bat survey Manchester, bat survey Merseyside, bat survey Nantwich, bat survey north west, bat survey Northamptonshire, bat survey Northwich, bat survey Nottinghamshire, bat survey Oxfordshire, bat survey Runcorn, bat survey Shropshire, bat survey Staffordshire, bat survey Vale Royal, bat survey Warwickshire, bat survey Wilmslow, bat survey Winsford, bat survey Wirral, bat survey Worcestershire, bat survey Wrexham, bat survey Yorkshire, bat surveyor, bat surveys, bat surveys north west, bats, bats Cheshire, bats in buildings, BREEAM, brown long eared bat, code for sustainable homes, Common pipistrelle, CSH, Daubentons bat, demolition, ecological assessment, ecological assessment survey, ecological consultancy, ecological consultancy Cheshire, ecological consultant, ecological consultant Cheshire, ecological consultant north west, ecological management, ecological survey, ecological survey Cheshire, ecological surveys, ecological surveys Cheshire, ecology report, ecology report Cheshire, ecology reports, environment assessment, environment assessment survey, european protected species licence, extended phase 1 survey, loft conversion, Nathusius pipistrelle, natterers bat, Natural England, noctule bat, planning permission, protected species survey, protected species survey Cheshire, protected species surveys, soprano pipistrelle, tile removal, tree roost, tree survey, wildlife and countryside act 1981
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Monday, August 15th, 2011
UES have completed an extended phase 1 habitat survey of a site in Deeside, North Wales in order to inform the client of any potential impacts their development would have on habitats and species.
Semi-improved neutral grassland
The site was defined as semi-improved neutral grassland. The species composition and pattern of growth reflect an unmanaged and ungrazed grassland dominated by course-leaved tussock grasses notably False oat-grass, Cocks foot and Yorkshire fog.
As part of the extended phase 1 habitat survey, specific observations of wildlife were also recorded. Wildlife observations focus on protected species, invasive species or species of conservation interest. Numerous species of birds were recorded during the survey which could have been breeding on or local to site.
In terms of the surrounding area the development of the site in Connahs Quay presents only a minor loss of habitat quality. UES suggested that landscaping should aim to promote species diversity by the appropriate design of habitats and habitats mosaics which promotes natural linkages and hence dispersal of target species. Suggested ideas that may be beneficial to wildlife include, planting of berry and nut bearing shrub species when landscaping, use of nectar bearing flowers, creating a wildflower garden, creating bird feeding stations and the hanging bat and bird boxes on site.
Tags: aerial tree inspection, amphibian survey, arboriculturalist, arboriculture, arborist, badger survey, barn owl survey, bat survey, botanical survey, botanical surveys, botantical surveys Cheshire, BREEAM, breeding bird survey, code for sustainable homes, CSH, dormouse survey, ecological assessment, ecological assessment survey, ecological consultancy, ecological consultancy Cheshire, ecological consultant, ecological consultant Cheshire, ecological consultant north west, ecological management, ecological survey, ecological survey Cheshire, ecological surveys, ecological surveys Cheshire, ecological value survey, ecology report, ecology report Cheshire, ecology reports, environment assessment, environment assessment survey, environmental audit, european protected species licence, extended phase 1 habitat survey, extended phase 1 habitat survey Cheshire, extended phase 1 habitat survey Connahs Quay, extended phase 1 habitat survey Deeside, extended phase 1 habitat surveys, extended phase 1 habitat surveys Cheshire, extended phase 1 survey, great crested newt survey, habitat creation, habitat management, habitat survey, habitat surveys, hedgerow survey, invasive species survey, Japanese knotweed survey, national vegetation classification Cheshire, national vegetation classification survey, natterjack toad survey, Natural England, NVC, NVC survey, otter survey, phase 1 habitat survey, phase 1 habitat survey Bedfordshire, phase 1 habitat survey Buckinghamshire, phase 1 habitat survey Cambridgeshire, phase 1 habitat survey Cheshire, phase 1 habitat survey Chester, phase 1 habitat survey Congleton, phase 1 habitat survey Crewe, phase 1 habitat survey Derbyshire, phase 1 habitat survey Ellesmere Port, phase 1 habitat survey Flintshire, phase 1 habitat survey Halton, phase 1 habitat survey Herefordshire, phase 1 habitat survey Hertfordshire, phase 1 habitat survey Knutsford, phase 1 habitat survey Lancashire, phase 1 habitat survey Leicestershire, phase 1 habitat survey Lincolnshire, phase 1 habitat survey Macclesfield, phase 1 habitat survey Manchester, phase 1 habitat survey Merseyside, phase 1 habitat survey Nantwich, phase 1 habitat survey north west, phase 1 habitat survey Northamptonshire, phase 1 habitat survey Northwich, phase 1 habitat survey Nottinghamshire, phase 1 habitat survey Oxfordshire, phase 1 habitat survey Runcorn, phase 1 habitat survey Shropshire, phase 1 habitat survey Staffordshire, phase 1 habitat survey Vale Royal, phase 1 habitat survey Warwickshire, phase 1 habitat survey Wilmslow, phase 1 habitat survey Winsford, phase 1 habitat survey Wirral, phase 1 habitat survey Worcestershire, phase 1 habitat survey Wrexham, phase 1 habitat survey Yorkshire, phase 1 habitat surveys, phase 1 habitat surveys Cheshire, phase 1 habitat surveys north west, planning permission, plant survey, plant surveys, protected species survey, protected species survey Cheshire, protected species surveys, reptile survey, tree survey, warer vole survey, wildlife and countryside act 1981
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Monday, August 15th, 2011
UES have recently completed a National Vegetation Classification (NVC) survey of a woodland in Cheshire in order to inform the client of any potential impacts their development would have on species on site.
Canopy and field layer
To survey the woodland canopy, 50 x 50 metre quadrats were used and all trees within those quadrats were recorded and assigned a frequency score. To survey the field and ground layer, a 2 x 2 metre quadrat was chosen and again all plants recorded and given a frequency score.
UES concluded that the woodland was a National Vegetation Classification community W10 Quercus robur – Pteridium aquilinum – Rubus fruticosus woodland typical sub-community, which is common throughout England. Field layer growth has been restricted by the dense tree canopy and so it is unlikely that any increased activity within the woodland as a result of the client will have any negative effect.
UES suggested that management of this woodland should be focussed on creating open areas by the removal of some of the Sycamore trees and non-native species such as Rhododendron. The removal of Sycamore will thin out the canopy increasing the light reaching the ground flora, which will encourage the growth of the field layer.
Tags: aerial tree inspection, arboriculturalist, arboriculture, arborist, botanical survey, botanical surveys, botantical surveys Cheshire, BREEAM, code for sustainable homes, CSH, ecological assessment, ecological assessment survey, ecological consultancy, ecological consultancy Cheshire, ecological consultant, ecological consultant Cheshire, ecological consultant north west, ecological management, ecological survey, ecological survey Cheshire, ecological surveys, ecological surveys Cheshire, ecological value survey, ecology report, ecology report Cheshire, ecology reports, environment assessment, environment assessment survey, environmental audit, european protected species licence, habitat creation, habitat management, habitat survey, habitat surveys, hedgerow survey, invasive species survey, Japanese knotweed survey, national vegetation classification survey, national vegetation classification survey Bedfordshire, national vegetation classification survey Buckinghamshire, national vegetation classification survey Cambridgeshire, national vegetation classification survey Cheshire, national vegetation classification survey Chester, national vegetation classification survey Congleton, national vegetation classification survey Crewe, national vegetation classification survey Derbyshire, national vegetation classification survey Ellesmere Port, national vegetation classification survey Flintshire, national vegetation classification survey Halton, national vegetation classification survey Herefordshire, national vegetation classification survey Hertfordshire, national vegetation classification survey Knutsford, national vegetation classification survey Lancashire, national vegetation classification survey Leicestershire, national vegetation classification survey Lincolnshire, national vegetation classification survey Macclesfield, national vegetation classification survey Manchester, national vegetation classification survey Merseyside, national vegetation classification survey Nantwich, national vegetation classification survey north west, national vegetation classification survey Northamptonshire, national vegetation classification survey Northwich, national vegetation classification survey Oxfordshire, national vegetation classification survey Runcorn, national vegetation classification survey Shropshire, national vegetation classification survey Staffordshire national vegetation classification survey Nottinghamshire, national vegetation classification survey Vale Royal, national vegetation classification survey Warwickshire, national vegetation classification survey Wilmslow, national vegetation classification survey Winsford, national vegetation classification survey Wirral, national vegetation classification survey Worcestershire, national vegetation classification survey Wrexham, national vegetation classification survey Yorkshire, national vegetation classification surveys, national vegetation classification surveys Cheshire, national vegetation classification surveys north west, Natural England, NVC, NVC survey, planning permission, plant survey, plant surveys, protected species survey, protected species survey Cheshire, protected species surveys, tree survey, wildlife and countryside act 1981
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Thursday, August 4th, 2011
Tarbock Hall is a 86 hectare parcel of land west of Liverpool on which developers intend to restore the dilapidated farm buildings as luxury houses, and also create a golf course.
UES has been involved in numerous surveys on site including bat surveys, National Vegetation Classification surveys (NVC), macro invertebrate surveys, breeding bird surveys, great crested newt surveys and water vole surveys. As part of the on-going ecological management of the site additional ecological surveys and monitoring were recommended to our client, one being water vole.
UES returned this year to conduct further water vole surveys in order to monitor the local population. The results were positive as various water vole field signs were found including, latrines, feeding remains and burrows. Other notable wildlife includes a moorhen’s nest which was found within a reed bed.
Discussions are now taking place on how best to increase water vole occupancy on site by way of appropriate management of invasive and dominant vegetation, creation of additional wetland habitats and increased connectivity measures.
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Moorhen nest
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Water vole feeding remains – Reed canary grass
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Water vole latrine
Tags: badger survey Herefordshire, badger survey Lincolnshire, badger survey Northamptonshire, BREEAM, code for sustainable homes, CSH, ecological assessment, ecological assessment survey, ecological consultancy, ecological consultancy Cheshire, ecological consultant, ecological consultant Cheshire, ecological consultant north west, ecological management, ecological survey, ecological survey Cheshire, ecological surveys, ecological surveys Cheshire, ecology report, ecology report Cheshire, ecology reports, environment assessment, environment assessment survey, european protected species licence, extended phase 1 survey, Natural England, planning permission, pond survey, pond surveys, protected species survey, protected species survey Cheshire, protected species surveys, river survey, stream survey, Water vole, water vole activity surveys, water vole assessment, water vole burrow, water vole burrows, water vole Cheshire, water vole ecological survey, water vole ecological surveys, water vole field survey, water vole latrines, water vole licence, water vole population, water vole scoping survey, water vole scoping surveys, water vole survey, water vole survey Bedfordshire, water vole survey Buckinghamshire, water vole survey Cambridgeshire, water vole survey Cheshire, water vole survey Chester, water vole survey Congleton, water vole survey Crewe, water vole survey Derbyshire, water vole survey Ellesmere Port, water vole survey Flintshire, water vole survey Halton, water vole survey Hertfordshire, water vole survey Knutsford, water vole survey Lancashire, water vole survey Leicestershire, water vole survey Macclesfield, water vole survey Manchester, water vole survey Merseyside, water vole survey Nantwich, water vole survey north west, water vole survey Northamptonshire, water vole survey Northwich, water vole survey Nottinghamshire, water vole survey Oxfordshire, water vole survey Runcorn, water vole survey Shropshire, water vole survey Staffordshire, water vole survey Vale Royal, water vole survey Warwickshire, water vole survey Wilmslow, water vole survey Winsford, water vole survey Wirral, water vole survey Worcestershire, water vole survey Wrexham, water vole survey Yorkshire, water vole surveyor, water vole surveys, water vole surveys north west, water voles, water voles Cheshire, watercourse destruction, watercourse development, watercourse survey, wetland survey, wildlife and countryside act 1981
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Thursday, August 4th, 2011
UES have completed an extended phase 1 habitat survey of a site in Lancashire in order to inform the client of any potential impacts their development would have on habitats and species.
A phase 1 habitat survey is a standard method of environmental audit. It involves categorising different habitat types and habitat features within a survey area. The information gained from the survey can be used to determine the ecological value of the site, and to direct any more specific survey work which may need to be carried out prior to the start of work, such as badger surveys, barn owl surveys, bat surveys, great crested newt surveys, dormouse surveys, water vole surveys, breeding bird surveys, hedgerow surveys and tree surveys.
Male Palmate newt (Lissotriton helveticus)
Seddon Homes applied for planning permission for a new build housing scheme which was subject to a ‘Code for Sustainable Homes’ (CSH) assessment. The aim of the Code for Sustainable Homes is to encourage development on land that has a limited value to wildlife, and discourage the use of previously undeveloped land.
The site was surveyed and all species on site recorded. The development site was deemed to be of moderate ecological value due to the neutral grassland with associated mature trees and species-rich countryside hedgerows. Numerous species of birds were also recorded during the survey which could have been breeding on or local to site. Further surveys for great crested newts (GCN) were conducted due to a pond on site being identified as suitable for amphibians. Palmate newts were found on site.
It was decided that enhancement measures were required in order to secure an ecological benefit at site level and achieve the maximum number of CSH ecological credits. The client welcomed the suggestion of incorporating bat and bird boxes into the design of the new buildings, which could provide a real benefit to local bat and bird populations.
Tags: aerial tree inspection, amphibian survey, arboriculturalist, arboriculture, arborist, badger survey, barn owl survey, bat survey, botanical survey, botanical surveys, botantical surveys Cheshire, BREEAM, breeding bird survey, code for sustainable homes, CSH, dormouse survey, ecological assessment, ecological assessment survey, ecological consultancy, ecological consultancy Cheshire, ecological consultant, ecological consultant Cheshire, ecological consultant north west, ecological management, ecological survey, ecological survey Cheshire, ecological surveys, ecological surveys Cheshire, ecological value survey, ecology report, ecology report Cheshire, ecology reports, environment assessment, environment assessment survey, environmental audit, european protected species licence, extended phase 1 habitat survey, extended phase 1 habitat survey Cheshire, extended phase 1 habitat surveys, extended phase 1 habitat surveys Cheshire, extended phase 1 survey, great crested newt survey, habitat creation, habitat management, habitat survey, habitat surveys, hedgerow survey, invasive species survey, Japanese knotweed survey, national vegetation classification Cheshire, national vegetation classification survey, natterjack toad survey, Natural England, NVC, NVC survey, otter survey, phase 1 habitat survey, phase 1 habitat survey Bedfordshire, phase 1 habitat survey Buckinghamshire, phase 1 habitat survey Cambridgeshire, phase 1 habitat survey Cheshire, phase 1 habitat survey Chester, phase 1 habitat survey Congleton, phase 1 habitat survey Crewe, phase 1 habitat survey Derbyshire, phase 1 habitat survey Ellesmere Port, phase 1 habitat survey Flintshire, phase 1 habitat survey Halton, phase 1 habitat survey Herefordshire, phase 1 habitat survey Hertfordshire, phase 1 habitat survey Knutsford, phase 1 habitat survey Lancashire, phase 1 habitat survey Leicestershire, phase 1 habitat survey Lincolnshire, phase 1 habitat survey Macclesfield, phase 1 habitat survey Manchester, phase 1 habitat survey Merseyside, phase 1 habitat survey Nantwich, phase 1 habitat survey north west, phase 1 habitat survey Northamptonshire, phase 1 habitat survey Northwich, phase 1 habitat survey Nottinghamshire, phase 1 habitat survey Oxfordshire, phase 1 habitat survey Runcorn, phase 1 habitat survey Shropshire, phase 1 habitat survey Staffordshire, phase 1 habitat survey Vale Royal, phase 1 habitat survey Warwickshire, phase 1 habitat survey Wilmslow, phase 1 habitat survey Winsford, phase 1 habitat survey Wirral, phase 1 habitat survey Worcestershire, phase 1 habitat survey Wrexham, phase 1 habitat survey Yorkshire, phase 1 habitat surveys, phase 1 habitat surveys Cheshire, phase 1 habitat surveys north west, planning permission, plant survey, plant surveys, protected species survey, protected species survey Cheshire, protected species surveys, reptile survey, tree survey, warer vole survey, wildlife and countryside act 1981
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