Posts Tagged ‘Cheshire’
Saturday, April 10th, 2010
Great Crested Newt Surveys in Cheshire
Great crested newt surveys can be carried out in Cheshire during spring and early summer. Pond surveys for great crested newts are undertaken at a time of year when the great crested newt population returns to the pond to breed. Great crested newt pond surveys have to be carried out to strict guidelines and so the people undertaking them must be properly trained, licensed and experienced to carry out great crested newt pond surveys. Cheshire has many ponds and wet areas which are suitable for great crested newts. Any action which has the potential to disturb great crested newts or their habitats must be preceded by great crested newt surveys of the pond or area, to ensure that no great crested newts are disturbed. United Environmental Services have experienced and appropriately licensed staff that can carry out great crested newt surveys in Cheshire. At times of year when great crested newts are not in the ponds, other survey methods can be employed. The main technique used is the habitat suitability index which is an accepted method of assessing a habitat for its suitability for use by great crested newts.
United Environmental Services carry out surveys across Cheshire. The surveys which are carried out in Cheshire include great crested newt surveys, bat surveys, Phase 1 habitat surveys, breeding bird surveys, water vole surveys and a full range of environmental surveys. United Environmental Services also offer landscape design and garden design services in Cheshire and can provide the materials and implementation work if required. We have a team of experienced surveyors, landscape architects and ground workers who work to a high standard across Cheshire.
Tags: amphibian survey, amphibian surveys, Cheshire, great crested newt, great crested newt surveys Cheshire, great crested newts, newt, newt surveys, pond, pond survey, pond surveyors, pond surveys, survey, surveys, wildlife surveys
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Saturday, April 10th, 2010
Phase 1 Habitat surveys in Cheshire
Phase 1 habitat surveys can be carried out in Cheshire at any time of year however the optimum time of year to carry out habitat surveys is during the spring and summer months when a more complete range of Cheshire’s flora and fauna are active. Phase 1 habitat surveys are used to catalogue the different types of habitat which are found in a given area. The results of the phase 1 habitat survey can then be used to assess the impacts of a development on an area and if necessary to specify if any further survey work is required. An example of this would be if a badger sett was found inside or close to the development area then badger surveys would be recommended, similarly if an area of habitat was found which was suitable for use by breeding birds then potentially breeding bird surveys would have to be completed prior to the start of works. Cheshire has a variety of different habitat types which support a range of different species, from woodlands to urban areas. Phase 1 habitat surveys are usually required prior to the start of development work and can save time as any potential issues with protected species or protected habitats will be highlighted early in the development.
United Environmental Services carry out surveys across Cheshire. The surveys which are carried out in Cheshire include great crested newt surveys, bat surveys, Phase 1 habitat surveys, breeding bird surveys, water vole surveys and a full range of environmental surveys. United Environmental Services also offer landscape design and garden design services in Cheshire and can provide the materials and implementation work if required. We have a team of experienced surveyors, landscape architects and ground workers who work to a high standard across Cheshire.
Tags: badger, Cheshire, habitat survey, habitat surveys, phase 1 habitat survey, planning permission, wildlife survey
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Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
Bat Surveys in Cheshire
Bat surveys can be undertaken in Cheshire at most times of the year. Bats are most active in Cheshire during the spring and summer months. Bat activity surveys can only be carried out in Cheshire at these times of year. At other times of year it is possible to carry out bat scoping surveys of buildings, and bat scoping surveys of trees and other structures which may support roosting bats. If signs of use by bats or features which could support roosting bats are found, then it will be necessary to complete bat activity surveys during the spring or summer. In Cheshire many bat surveys are carried out on barns and farm buildings. This is in order to gain planning permission. Barn conversions are one of the most common causes of loss of bat habitat which is why local planning authorities insist on bat surveys prior to planning permission being granted. There are several species of bat which are resident in Cheshire. These include Noctule bat, common pipistrelle bat, soprano pipistrelle bat, Nathusius’ pipistrelle bat, Daubentons’ bat, Whiskered bat, Brandt’s’ bat. United Environmental Services use several pieces of high tech equipment to find bats during a bat survey. These include bat boxes which can detect the echolocation calls of bats and the Anabat system which detects bat echolocation calls and displays them visually on a PDA screen which makes recording of the bat calls and identification of the bat species much more accurate.
United Environmental Services carry out surveys across Cheshire. The surveys which are carried out in Cheshire include great crested newt surveys, bat surveys, Phase 1 habitat surveys, breeding bird surveys, water vole surveys and a full range of environmental surveys. United Environmental Services also offer landscape design and garden design services in Cheshire and can provide the materials and implementation work if required. We have a team of experienced surveyors, landscape architects and ground workers who work to a high standard across Cheshire.
Contact us for more details
Tags: barn conversion, bat, bat activity survey, bat report, bat survey, bat surveyors, bat surveys in cheshire, Cheshire, loft conversion, planning permission
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Thursday, February 18th, 2010
Well it’s been a long cold winter and we’ve all had a good rest but spring is just around the corner and we are gearing up for another busy year. Here are a few of the projects we are currently working on.
Cheshire: bats and great crested newts
We are currently in the planning stages of a large project in Wilmslow, Cheshire. The plans involve bat surveys (some of which we did last year), European protected species licensing, the planning and construction of a large bat barn prior to the start of development. Brown long eared bats, pipistrelles and myotis species were found during the bat surveys so the barn will be designed with these species in mind. The roost which is in place is currently being monitored using an anabat remote bat detector and several dataloggers to record temperature and humidity data. Whiskered bats and Brandt’s bats are present at the bat barns which were built for Manchester airport, only a few miles away. The project also requires great crested newt surveys on ponds in and around the site footprint. If great crested newts are found then a mitigation plan will have to be designed and an EPS licence application submitted to Natural England.
Merseyside: bats, great crested newts, water vole, barn owls
A golf course development on Merseyside which United Environmental Services were involved in last year still has work to be done as a condition of the licence. This will involve de-silting the ponds to improve their quality for great crested newts, and amphibians in general. The fitting of a large number of bat boxes around the site. The fitting of a number of bird boxes. Management of the woodlands. Management of the watercourse which has water voles resident. As a result of the great crested newt trapping scheme last year the on site ponds must also be monitored for the next 5 years.
Cambridgeshire: great crested newts, bats, reptiles and red kites
We also have great crested newt monitoring contracts at a site in Cambridgeshire not far from Stamford in Lincolnshire. The site was trapped out in 2008 and over 500 great crested newts relocated to new ponds. The site is rich in many species of wildlife and sits next to a SSSI woodland. Red kites are nesting close to the site and can often be seen hunting close by. Several species of reptiles were found during the trapping including, grass snake, slow worm and common lizard.
Staffordshire: bat monitoring
Bat monitoring is ongoing at the site of a former mill in Tunstall near Stoke on Trent in Staffordshire after a small number of pipistrelle bats were found to be using one of the buildings prior to demolition. Monitoring work will carry on until the new buildings have been built with replacement bat roosts built into the fabric of the buildings.
Tags: anabat, bat barn, bat roost, bat survey, brandts bats, brown long eared bat, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, dataloggers, european protected species licence, great crested newt, Manchester airport, Merseyside, monitoring, Natural England, pipistrelle bat, remote bat detector, Staffordshire, whiskered bats
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Sunday, January 31st, 2010
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Inspecting beeston castle caves for hibernating bats
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natterers bat hibernating in the caves
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Schwegler bat box fitting in the snow
Cheshire bat group have visited Beeston Castle in Cheshire to inspect the caves for hibernating bats and and to fit bat boxes onto the trees surrounding the castle. The bat group are working with English Heritage at the site to make improvements to the quality of the habitat surrounding the castle. Stewart from United environmental services helped out with the tree climbing and bat box installation
The castle supports a colony of natterers bats as well as noctules and pipistrelles. The different bat species all use different areas and features of the monument and its grounds in different ways, and at different times of year.
The caves were man made and the walls are very smooth with few faults which can support hibernating bats. An inspection of the caves by the bat group revealed a single hibernating natterers bat tucked into a small fault in the rock. Herald moths were also seen in the caves and are considered an indicator of conditions suitable for hibernating bats.
Fitting the bat boxes into the trees proved an arduous task as on the day it was snowing quite heavily. The bat group did manage to fit 18 boxes into the trees with a further 12 boxes to be placed in the trees and 4 to be fitted in the caves at a later date.
Tags: Bat box, bat roost, Beeston Castle, Cheshire, English Heritage, natterers bat, noctule bat, pipistrelle bat, tree climbing
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Thursday, January 7th, 2010
United Environmental Services carry out surveys across Cheshire. The surveys which are carried out in Cheshire include great crested newt surveys, bat surveys, Phase 1 habitat surveys, breeding bird surveys, water vole surveys and a full range of environmental surveys. United Environmental Services also offer landscape design and garden design services in Cheshire and can provide the materials and implementation work if required. We have a team of experienced surveyors, landscape architects and ground workers who work to a high standard across Cheshire.
Bat Surveys in Cheshire
Bat surveys can be undertaken in Cheshire at most times of the year. Bats are most active in Cheshire during the spring and summer months. Bat activity surveys can only be carried out in Cheshire at these times of year. At other times of year it is possible to carry out bat scoping surveys of buildings, and bat scoping surveys of trees and other structures which may support roosting bats. If signs of use by bats or features which could support roosting bats are found, then it will be necessary to complete bat activity surveys during the spring or summer. In Cheshire many bat surveys are carried out on barns and farm buildings. This is in order to gain planning permission. Barn conversions are one of the most common causes of loss of bat habitat which is why local planning authorities insist on bat surveys prior to planning permission being granted. There are several species of bat which are resident in Cheshire. These include Noctule bat, common pipistrelle bat, soprano pipistrelle bat, Nathusius’ pipistrelle bat, Daubentons’ bat, Whiskered bat, Brandt’s’ bat. United Environmental Services use several pieces of high tech equipment to find bats during a bat survey. These include bat boxes which can detect the echolocation calls of bats and the Anabat system which detects bat echolocation calls and displays them visually on a PDA screen which makes recording of the bat calls and identification of the bat species much more accurate.
Great Crested Newt Surveys in Cheshire
Great crested newt surveys can be carried out in Cheshire during spring and early summer. Pond surveys for great crested newts are undertaken at a time of year when the great crested newt population returns to the pond to breed. Great crested newt pond surveys have to be carried out to strict guidelines and so the people undertaking them must be properly trained, licensed and experienced to carry out great crested newt pond surveys. Cheshire has many ponds and wet areas which are suitable for great crested newts. Any action which has the potential to disturb great crested newts or their habitats must be preceded by great crested newt surveys of the pond or area, to ensure that no great crested newts are disturbed. United Environmental Services have experienced and appropriately licensed staff that can carry out great crested newt surveys in Cheshire. At times of year when great crested newts are not in the ponds, other survey methods can be employed. The main technique used is the habitat suitability index which is an accepted method of assessing a habitat for its suitability for use by great crested newts.
Phase 1 Habitat surveys in Cheshire
Phase 1 habitat surveys can be carried out in Cheshire at any time of year however the optimum time of year to carry out habitat surveys is during the spring and summer months when a more complete range of Cheshire’s flora and fauna are active. Phase 1 habitat surveys are used to catalogue the different types of habitat which are found in a given area. The results of the phase 1 habitat survey can then be used to assess the impacts of a development on an area and if necessary to specify if any further survey work is required. An example of this would be if a badger sett was found inside or close to the development area then badger surveys would be recommended, similarly if an area of habitat was found which was suitable for use by breeding birds then potentially breeding bird surveys would have to be completed prior to the start of works. Cheshire has a variety of different habitat types which support a range of different species, from woodlands to urban areas. Phase 1 habitat surveys are usually required prior to the start of development work and can save time as any potential issues with protected species or protected habitats will be highlighted early in the development.
United Environmental Services are experienced in a wide range of ecological survey work, contact us for more information.
Tags: bat barn, Bat Conservation Trust, bat roost, bat survey, bats, Cheshire, daubentons bats, Echolocation, european protected species licence, great crested newt, Natural England, phase 1 habitat survey, United Environmental Services, Water vole, whiskered bats, wildlife legislation
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
Bat Hibernation boxes are fitted high in trees and this one was no exception.This mature beech tree was chosen because of its size location and stability. Ropes were set up by Mike in order to climb the tree and then a small pulley was placed above the planned position of the hibernation box. Stewart then climbed the tree using the ropes. The pulley was tested for safety and then the bracket was nailed into position. The hibernation box which weighs 30kg was then hoisted up by Mike and Toby and hung in its final position roughly eight metres above the ground.
We hope to find noctule bats using this box next year as they were observed feeding very close by during a survey last summer. Soprano pipistrelles and Brown long eared bats were also recorded at the time and pipistrelles may well use the box when they find it. It is always a good approach to install extra bat roosts around any development even if no bats are to be affected by it. This can help all species of bats as they require many different roosts at different times of the year.
We also fitted hibernation boxes into the walls of the extension. And fitted bat access tiles into the new roof to allow access to the void beneath the tiles for crevice dwelling bats such as pipistrelles.
Stewart.
Tags: bat access tiles, Bat box, bat hibernation box, bat roost, brandts bats, brown long eared bat, Cheshire, mitigation, natterers bat, noctule bat, pipistrelle bat, Schwegler, tree climbing, whiskered bats
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Saturday, May 9th, 2009
UES were commisioned for an extended phase 1 habitat survey of a site north of Porthmadog. The desk study and record search revealed no records on the site, but did have several records of Lesser horseshoe bats within 1km of the site boundary.
The site itself both from the record search and from aerial photography looked fairly unremarkable as it was in a packet of land between a busy road and a railway line and had two distinct habitat types. The western end of site was high ground with lots of exposed rock. The variety of flora present suggested it was a species rich grassland as did the numerous ant mounds made by yellow meadow ants (lasius flavus). Several bird species were heard and seen around the site area including Wheatear, Grasshopper warbler and willow warbler. The eastern half of the site was marshy grassland dominated by soft rush, with an artificial drainage channel cutting through it from north to south. There were no rocks or raised areas in the watercourse and it was very smooth and uniform on the bottom suggesting that it had been quite recently cleared. The water was around 1m deep and running slowly from south to north. Toby checked the watercourse for signs of watervole and was surprised to find several latrines and burrows along the banks of the drain. The sites were recorded with GPS references and photographs. The CCW (Countryside Council for Wales) and local record centre (COFNOD) were notified as was the developer. The water vole is now fully protected under Section 9 of The Wildlife and Countryside act 1981 (as amended) which makes illegal any action which might
- Intentionally kill, injure or take water voles
- posess or control live or dead water voles or their derivatives
- Intentionally or recklessly damage destroy or obstruct access to any structure or place used by water voles
The developer was initially annoyed because of the affect the find would have on the project. But realised that the survey which had taken place very early in the planning stages of the development, had saved the company money in the long run.
The early survey had allowed them to properly assess the cost of the development before the start of work, rather than finding the water voles mid-project, and having to stop work redesign the plans and potentially have damaged or destroyed the habitat of a species which is already in serious decline.
Tags: bat roost, Cheshire, european protected species licence, greater horseshoe bats, lesser horseshoe bat, North Wales, phase 1 habitat survey, pipistrelle bat, Porthmadog, Protected species, United Environmental Services, Water vole
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