Our Services

UES provide a full range of ecological services, from habitat surveys and protected species survey work to landscape design and Japanese knotweed removal. Our experienced staff have spent a lot of time in the field studying the habitat and behavior of different protected species, so you can rest assured that the results of your survey are robust.

Any project has the potential to impact on wildlife, the way that work is carried out and the timing of that work are important factors in determining whether the impact is of a positive or negative nature.

At UES we believe that working with the legislation, rather than trying to work around it can provide positive results for developers and wildlife alike.

Thorough survey work as early in your project as possible will save you time and expense.

For a brief explanation of some of the services we offer please click the links below.

Protected Species Surveys

Aerial Tree Inspections

Aerial tree inspections are carried out in order to check if trees are being used by protected species such as bats or Barn owls. An aerial tree inspection for bats can be carried out as part of a wider bat survey or barn owl survey or in order to e...

Bat Surveys

Why carry out bat surveys? Bats are susceptible to changes in their environment and their numbers have decreased dramatically over the last century. Changes in agricultural practices, the loss of woodlands and hedgerows and the expansion of our to...

Great Crested Newt Surveys

Why carry out Great Crested Newt Surveys? The great crested newt (GCN) and its habitat are protected by law because the species has declined significantly, largely down to the loss of suitable habitat. Planning authorities have to take GCN into ac...

Barn Owl Surveys

Barn Owls are protected under Section 1 and section 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). The act makes it an offence to: • intentionally kill or injure a barn owl • destroy or take a nest, eggs or young while the nest is i...

Badger Surveys

Badgers and their setts are protected under the Badgers Act 1992 (as amended). The act effectively makes it an offence to: • kill or injure a badger • interfere with a badger sett that shows signs of current use by badgers The law is intended ...

Breeding Bird Surveys

All breeding birds are protected under schedule 9 of the wildlife and countryside act 1981(as amended). Wild birds are protected from being killed, injured or captured. Their nests are protected from being damaged, destroyed or taken. Several species...

Water Vole Survey

In April 2008 the water vole (Arvicola terrestris) became fully protected under Section 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act. Making it an offence to: • Kill, injure or take water voles • Intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct ...

Crayfish Survey

White clawed crayfish are found in a range of aquatic habitats, such as lakes, rivers, streams or quarry pools. Crayfish prefer unpolluted, calcareous waters with little sediment and plenty of shelter in the form of rocks, aquatic plants and tree ro...

Habitat Surveys

Phase 1 Habitat Surveys

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 ...

Hedgerow Surveys

Important Hedgerows are protected under the Hedgerows Regulations 1997. The act makes it an offence to: • Remove hedgerows without permission from the Local Planning Authority Removal of countryside hedgerows in whole or in part should not be do...

Tree Surveys

There are several types of tree survey available depending on your requirements UES can provide the following survey types: Tree Report Tree reports are often required for: • Mortgage lenders and purchasers prior to completion • Trees that a...

Code for Sustainable Homes

Code for Sustainable Homes is the national standard for the sustainable design and construction of new homes. The Code aims to reduce our carbon emissions and create homes that are more sustainable. The Code measures the sustainability of a new home ...

Habitat Creation and Management

Landscape and Garden Design

Landscape design is an important part of any development project and has a major impact on the final appearance of a project as a whole. Good landscape design can improve the working or living environment for people using the area and landscape desig...

Bat and bird box fitting and advice

Bat and bird boxes are a relatively cheap and simple way to improve the quality of habitats. They can be built into the fabric of new buildings without major changes to plans and with no negative affect on the aesthetics of the design. They can also ...

Habitat design and creation

All developments have the potential to impact on habitats, and the species which are supported by them. We work to ensure that this is a positive and not a negative impact, and believe that working with the legislation rather than against it can prov...

Pond Creation

Ponds are particularly important as home to the protected great crested newt. As many as 1 in 3 ponds in Cheshire contain populations of great crested newts. Ponds also provide habitat for other amphibians such as, common toad, smooth newt , palmate ...

Licensing and Mitigation

European Protected Species Licensing

Many species which are resident in the UK are protected by UK and European legislation. Any action or development which has the potential to affect a protected species its habitat may need to be carried out under a protected species licence issued b...

Expert Witness

Ecological Expert Witness

United Environmental Services have appeared as the ecological expert witness in a number of cases. These have ranged from public enquiries on behalf of borough councils through to criminal prosecutions in the crown court. The cases have varied betwee...