Services

Presence/Absence Surveys - our experienced team of Ecologists will complete a details presence/absence survey of your site or land to search for signs of badger activity. All evidence of badger activity will be recorded and mapped and bespoke recommendations will be provided to fit your individual project requirements.

Territory Mapping Studies / Bait Marking Studies – using a variety of techniques (such as bait marking studies, tracking, thermal trailing and infrared camera monitoring), we will undertake a territorial mapping study (TMS) to determine the number of badger social groups within an area, as well as their territory sizes and boundaries. Results of a TMS study have numerous applications and can be used to inform population density assessments, site design, artificial sett locations, badger mitigation measures (i.e. road crossing points) etc.

Activity Monitoring – deployment of long-term infra-red motion activated trail cameras are used to assess levels of badger activity and identify important badger features within an area of land, such as sett classification, confirmation of breeding, significant commuting routes, important foraging habitats and indicative population estimates of individual social groups.

Badger Vaccination & Training – our team are licenced by Natural England and DEFRA to trap badgers using cages and vaccinate them against bovine Tuberculosis throughout England and Wales. We are also qualified to train to provide full cage trapping and vaccination training/accreditation to individuals or groups.

Licence Applications – we are experienced in obtaining derogation licenses throughout England, Scotland and Wales, working across a wide range of sectors. We offer bespoke licenses and method statements to fit individual project requirements and frequently work with our clients to overcome any project difficulties arising from badger activity. We also hold a Class Licence for interference with badger setts in England, which enables faster licence approval and often cost saving benefits.

Artificial Sett Creation - having designed and created artificial setts for several years, our team can provide bespoke advice on the requirements for an artificial sett, including; the need for one, its ideal location, design of the sett (layout and size), choice of materials, and timing of construction. Depending on the nature of the project, we are able to supervise the construction of an artificial sett or undertake construction ourselves. Following construction, we would undertake a period of monitoring and enticement at the artificial sett using infra-red motion activated cameras and bait points to assess levels of badger activity and support the licence application.

Badger Sett Closure – we are experienced in all forms of sett closure, including full closure, partial closure, temporary closure and live dig methods. Following approval of the relevant badger licence, our team will provide a detailed sett closure methodology and a list of required materials and associated costs. We can undertake or supervise the installation of exclusion devices (one-way opening gates and pegged down galvanised steel mesh). Monitoring of the sett is a condition of all badger licences and will be undertaken by our team for a minimum of 21 days using a combination of infra-red motion activated cameras, print traps, activity assessments and movement indicators. Following successful completion of the sett closure, our team will supervise the destruction or hard blocking of the sett.

Reporting & Mapping – we can produce a range of detailed reports that would be suitable to support planning applications, discharge planning conditions, accompany a licence application, or update a licensing body. Each report will be bespoke to the individual project and will be supported by detailed GIS plans.

Building Inspections – our Ecologists regularly undertake inspections on a wide variety of building types. We will complete a detailed external and internal inspection of the buildings assessing it for signs of bat use and roosting potential. Any evidence of bat use will be recorded, and further survey recommendations will be provided. All our Ecologists hold a Natural England Level 1 survey Licence for bats and are fully trained to inspect buildings with known bat roosts.

Ground Level Tree Assessments – we are experienced in assessing trees (from ground level) for their potential to support roosting bats. All our assessments are completed using high-powered torches and binoculars. For each assessment we report the findings of the survey and provide recommendations for further survey effort, if require.

Roost Surveys – our team all hold Natural England Level 1 survey licences for bats and have extensive experience surveying buildings, trees, structures for the presence of roosting bats. We are also competent in undertaken more specific roost surveys, such as swarming assessments of hibernation features. We utilise a range of modern technology, including infra-red and thermal imaging equipment, as well as modern echolocation recording devices. Our team will analyse the audio and video data from each survey and the results will be used to assess likely impacts, and inform the requirement for a European Protected Species Licence and development of a site-specific mitigation strategy.

Licence Applications – we are experienced in the submission of all documents required for a successful European Protected Species Licence submission and utilise our network of highly skilled associates to obtain licences from Natural England. Our team are experienced in the design of replacement roosts for a number of bat species.

Reporting & Mapping – we can produce a range of detailed reports that would be suitable to support planning applications, discharge planning conditions, Method Statements to accompany a licence application, or update a licensing body. Each report will be bespoke to the individual project and will be supported by detailed GIS plans.

Habitat Suitability and Scoping Assessments – our experienced team will assess habitats within your site for their suitability to support otter. We will also undertake a thorough desk study assessment to highlight suitable habitats within proximity. The information collected will be used to inform the requirement for further survey effort and advice on the potential implications for your project.

Otter Presence / Absence Survey – a survey of your site or land will be undertaken to search for signs of otter presence. All suitable habitats will be searched, and evidence of otter will be recorded and mapped. The results can be used to inform site design, map movement and territories of otter, assess likely impacts and highlight mitigation requirements.

Otter Mitigation – our experienced Ecologist will be able to design and provide a bespoke mitigation strategy to fit with your project needs. We can design and assist in the construction of an artificial otter holt and recommend measures to ensure your project complies with relevant legislation and otter welfare.

Reporting & Mapping – we can produce a range of detailed reports that would be suitable to support planning applications, discharge planning conditions (i.e. Construction Ecological Management Plan (CEMP)), Method Statements to accompany a licence application, or update a licensing body. Each report will be bespoke to the individual project and will be supported by detailed GIS plans.

Habitat Suitability and Scoping Assessments - our experienced team will assess habitats within your site for their suitability to support water voles. We will also undertake a thorough desk study assessment to assess connectivity to other suitable habitat within the locality. The information collected will be used to inform the requirement for further survey effort and advice on the potential implications for your project.

Environmental DNA – we can collect water samples that can be used to extract environmental DNA and determine the presence of water voles. This can be a useful technique in the early stages of the project or where access or health and safety consideration restrict traditional survey methodology.

Water Vole Presence / Absence Survey – between one-two surveys will be completed to determine the presence of water voles within your site. Our experienced surveyors will search all suitable habitats for indicative field signs of water vole. The results of the survey can be used to inform site design, estimate relative population densities, assess likely impacts and highlight mitigation requirements.

Activity Monitoring – we can undertake bespoke monitoring of sites to record the presence and relative population densities of water voles using a variety of techniques including rafts (for feeding remains and latrines) as well as application of infra-red motion-detected trail cameras.

Licence Applications – we are experienced in the submission of all documents required for a successful A11 water vole mitigation licence from Natural England.

Displacement – we have experience in undertaking displacement techniques as Accredited Agents on a class licence (CL31). This technique includes a phase clearance of vegetation and denuding on banksides to encourage water voles to move out of the impacted area. We can advise whether this technique would be appropriate for proposed works or if an A11 mitigation licence would be needed.

Reporting & Mapping – we can produce a range of detailed reports that would be suitable to support planning applications, discharge planning conditions, Method Statements to accompany a licence application, or update a licensing body. Each report will be bespoke to the individual project and will be supported by detailed GIS plans.

Our team are experienced in the ecology, surveying and monitoring of several other protected and notable mammal species, including dormouse, red squirrel, hedgehog, deer, pine marten and wildcat.

We offer the following services:

Dormice – habitat assessment, footprint tunnel study, impact assessment

Hedgehog – pre-clearance checks, enhancement strategies, site surveys and monitoring using footprint tunnels, habitat assessment, impact assessment

Red Squirrel – habitat assessment, presence / absence surveys (transect surveys, feeding remains, camera trap monitoring, sticky tape, eDNA), impact assessment

Pine Marten – habitat assessment, presence / absence surveys (located field signs such as faeces, dens), camera trap monitoring, impact assessment

Deer – presence / absence surveys using transects and camera trap monitoring. Species identification and population density/mapping monitoring using dropping analysis, impact assessment

Reporting & Mapping - We can produce a range of detailed reports that would be suitable to support planning applications, discharge planning conditions (i.e. Construction Ecological Management Plan (CEMP)), Method Statements to accompany a licence application, or update a licensing body. Each report will be bespoke to the individual project and will be supported by detailed GIS plans.

Great Crested Newt – our Ecologists hold Natural England CL08 and CL09 survey licences for GCN. We are proficient in undertaking presence/absence surveys (using trapping, egg searches, torch light surveys and eDNA), as well as pitfall trap studies for terrestrial habitats. Survey results will be used to assess the breeding status and population density of GCN, assess potential impacts, and inform the requirement for a European Protected Species Licence and development of a site-specific mitigation strategy. We are skilled in the design and creation of amphibian receptor sites and undertake population monitoring assessments.

White-Clawed Crayfish – our team hold a CL11 survey licence and a CL23 maintenance licence for white-clawed crayfish. Using our experience, we design and undertake bespoke presence/absence surveys using a range of methodologies, assess potential impacts and report our findings with recommendations for further survey effort or mitigation requirements.

Reptiles – we provide thorough habitat assessments and present / absent surveys for reptiles using a number of survey techniques. The results can be used to determine species presence and population densities, identify potential impacts and recommended mitigation requirements, habitat enhancement, and habitat creation for your project.