Posts Tagged ‘Natural England’
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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Tuesday, July 19th, 2011
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 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, July 19th, 2011
There are 56 species of wild orchid in Britain and Ireland (out of around 25,000 known species worldwide). In the UK wild orchids can be found in a variety of natural habitats including woodland, grassland, marshes, heaths and sand dunes, as well as in managed sites such as abandoned pits and roadside verges. Each orchid species has its own blooming season, which can run from as early as April in the case of the Early-purple orchid to as late as September for the Autumn ladies tresses.
The main threats to wild orchids in the UK are habitat change and destruction. In Britain, orchids are protected by the Wildlife And Countryside Act, 1981, which states that it is an offence to uproot them unless you have permission from the land owner.
UES spotted these wild orchids whilst completing ecological surveys in Cheshire, Liverpool, and Hampshire.
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Bee orchid
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Common spotted orchid
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Fragrant marsh orchid
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Frog orchid
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Lizard orchid
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Northern marsh orchid
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Pyramid orchid
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Southern marsh & Common spotted hybrid
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, Orchid, orchids, 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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Tuesday, July 19th, 2011
There are over 2500 species of moth in Britain. As there are so many species of moths, experts split them into two groups, the larger (or macro-) moths and the smaller (or micro-) moths.
UES has been lucky enough to spot 51 species of macro-moth so far during monitoring surveys, including the impressive Eyed hawk-moth so called due to the large and beautiful spots on each of its hind wings, and the Peppered moth whose white with black speckled patterning across the wings make it well camouflaged against lichen-covered tree trunks which it rests on during the day.
Other favourite species observed include Burnished brass, Elephant hawk, Garden tiger, Ghost, Light emerald and Lime hawk-moth.
UES contributes to the National Moth Recording Scheme (NMRS), which brings together sightings of all macro-moths across the UK, Isle of Man and Channel Islands in a bid to create full ‘Britain and Ireland’ distributions for all species.
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Burnished brass moth (Diachrysia chrysitis)
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Elephant hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor)
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Eyed hawk-moth (Smerinthus ocellata)
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Garden tiger moth (Arctia caja)
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Ghost moth (female; Hepialus humuli)
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Ghost moth (male; Hepialus humuli)
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Light emerald moth (Campaea margaritata)
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Lime hawk-moth (Mimas tiliae)
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Peppered moth (Biston betularia)
Tags: BREEAM, Cheshire, code for sustainable homes, 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 surveys, ecological surveys Cheshire, ecology report, ecology report Cheshire, ecology reports, environment assessment, environment assessment survey, european protected species licence, extended phase 1 survey, 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, wildlife and countryside act 1981
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Monday, July 18th, 2011
UES welcomes Kathryn James as their new Graduate Ecologist. Kathryn is currently completing a MRes in Aquatic Ecology and Conservation at Swansea University, having recently completed a BSc in Zoology at Cardiff University.
“Since coming to UES my survey skills have increased dramatically; I have honed my identification skills and have learnt how to juggle a diverse and challenging workload.
I’ve enjoyed the sheer range of clients and projects I get to work on and the fact that no day is ever the same. I particularly enjoy going out on bat surveys and learning about different botanical species, which is an aspect of ecology that I had not delved into before.”
Tags: BREEAM, code for sustainable homes, 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 surveys, ecological surveys Cheshire, ecology report, ecology report Cheshire, ecology reports, environment assessment, environment assessment survey, european protected species licence, extended phase 1 survey, graduate ecologist, Natural England, planning permission, protected species survey, protected species survey Cheshire, protected species surveys, wildlife and countryside act 1981
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Friday, July 15th, 2011
BCT runs a number of national, annual surveys to monitor the status of bats throughout the UK. These surveys form the National Bat Monitoring Programme (NBMP). UES volunteers with around 3000 others to collect essential data on bat populations every year.
UES is currently completing field surveys of 3 sites in Cheshire. Each survey involves walking a triangular route in a randomly allocated 1km square on two evenings in July, to record noctule, serotine, common pipistrelle and soprano pipistrelle bat activity. UES uses several pieces of equipment during a bat survey; 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.
The NBMP is of great importance as UK bat populations have declined considerably during the past century due to building and development works affecting roosts, and the loss of feeding habitats and flightlines.
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 Conservation Trust, 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 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, BCT, 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, national bat monitoring programme, natterers bat, Natural England, NBMP, noctule bat, planning permission, protected species survey, protected species survey Cheshire, protected species surveys, soprano pipistrelle, tree roost, tree survey, wildlife and countryside act 1981
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Tuesday, June 15th, 2010
Natural England has withdrawn as the lead partner for the Suffolk White tailed sea eagle reintroduction program.
The sea eagle project partnership headed by Natural England and the RSPB has already carried out an extensive feasibility study into the potential effects of the scheme on farming and local biodiversity.
Dr Tom Tew, Chief Scientist for Natural England, said “We have taken the decision to withdraw from the project at this stage because we believe it would be inappropriate to commit public funds to an extensive public consultation over a project that we would, in the foreseeable future, be unable to fund.
In response, Dr Mark Avery, the RSPB’s Head of Conservation, said: “This decision will disappoint all those who look forward to the return of white-tailed eagles to their rightful place in England’s skies.
“Righting the wrongs of the past, which saw these magnificent birds driven from our coasts and wetlands, remains a priority for conservation programmes of the future particularly when illegal persecution of birds of prey remains far too common in the UK.
“The RSPB recognises that in a time of financial restrictions some projects need to be delayed but we are very concerned that wildlife conservation will be hit very hard by the financial stringencies ahead.
For full details click the links below
http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/about_us/news/2010/140610.aspx
http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.asp?id=tcm:9-254511
Tags: biodiversity, farming, Natural England, project, reintroduction, RSPB, Suffolk, White Tailed Sea Eagle, withdraw
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Monday, March 8th, 2010
A construction company has been fined at Lowestoft Magistrates Court after failing to maintain amphibian fencing at a licenced site which allowed the trapped newts to return onto the development site which is now owned and managed by the Sussex Wildlife Trust.
The following article is taken from the Natural England website.
On 8 March 2010 at Lowestoft Magistrates Court, Barnes Construction Limited of Ransomes Europark, Ipswich, was fined £700 with £200 costs and a victim surcharge of £15 after pleading guilty to damaging or destroying a resting place of great crested newts at the construction site for a new Travelodge in Leisureway, Lowestoft.
The owners of the land at Potters Kiln had employed professional consultant ecologists to do a wildlife survey and apply to Natural England for a licence to trap and move any great crested newts to a new reserve set up specially to take them on land immeadiately adjoining the site. This land is now owned and managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust.
As part of the licenced trapping programme, a special amphibian-proof fence was erected around the entire site to help catch the newts but also to prevent them from returning to the site once they had been transferred to the adjacent site.
Natural England officers visited the site on 23 May 2008 following a complaint to find that the fence had been removed in some areas and damaged in others. This would allow newts to re-entre the site and potentially be killed or injured by the construction work which had already started on the site.
The company pleaded guilty to damaging or destroying a resting place of great crested newts under Regulation 39 (1) (d) of the Conservation (Natural habitats, &c) Regulations 1994.
Following the verdict, Natural England Wildlife Enforncement Specialist Paul Cantwell, said:
“This case highlights the need for construction companies to comply with the law in relation to protected species. In this particular case, the defendant failed to ask any questions of the site owner in relation to protected species and failed to ascertain the purpose of the amphibian fencing. Had it done so, they may not have ended up with a criminal conviction today. The aggravating feature in this case was that they were told by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, the landowner’s ecologist, the Poilce and Natural England to stop works because of the risk to newts but failed to heed these warnings and carried on.”
A spokesperson for Suffolk Wildlife Trust added: “We are pleased that the law protecting great crested newts, which are protected at both a national and European level, has been proven to work. Great crested newts are legally protected from trade, transport, possession, capture, injury, killing or disturbance. Their habitat also receives protection from disturbance.”
Natural England Website
http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/regions/east_of_england/press_releases/2010/080310.aspx
Tags: amphibian fencing, european protected species licence, great crested newt, Lowestoft, Natural England, Sussex
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