Ecology
ACD provides a full suite of ecological services to support its clients through the planning and development process. The preliminary ecological input typically comprises an extended Phase 1 habitat survey of the proposed development site alongside a desk study.

This ecological assessment work allows us to inform our clients of any (actual and / or potential) legal and / or planning policy constraints in relation to ecology and their proposed development(s).

Ecological constraints, such as the presence of protected / notable species, e.g. roosting bats, great crested newt, dormouse, reptiles and badger etc, are material considerations in the planning process and may require further survey work and / or mitigation.

Other constraints which would be identified comprise the presence of invasive species, specifically invasive weed species listed on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) such as Japanese Knotweed and Giant Hogweed.

Section 14(2) of this Act makes it is an offence to ‘plant or otherwise cause to grow’ in the wild any species listed on Schedule 9. This could include spreading parts of the plant around a development site during site clearance or whilst undertaking construction works.

In addition, Japanese Knotweed is regarded as controlled waste and has to be disposed of at licensed sites or by burning on site. Establishing the presence of such species enables us to
inform our clients of any likely mitigation requirements.

ACD’s primary piece of advice to its clients is therefore to commence the ecological assessment work at the earliest opportunity, preferably at the pre-application stage.

Ecology Survey Season
In light of the complexity of the various ecological survey seasons, ACD would welcome the opportunity to discuss with its clients the programming of any ecological assessment work for the current season.

Please contact Stephen Dale or John Constable on
01666 825646 to discuss your requirements.

Did you know?
The word 'badger' comes from the French word becheur, which means ‘digger’.
 
Badgers live underground in a maze of tunnels and chambers known as ‘setts’. It is thought that these setts can survive for centuries.
 
Badgers (Meles meles) are not only found in the UK but also in China and Japan.
 
Badgers are protected by the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. This means disturbing or damaging setts, killing, injuring or taking a badger are illegal with stiff penalties.
 
Recently the guidance on badgers and proximity of working near badger setts, has changed.  The need for a licence to work near a badger sett is now based on an ecologist’s professional opinion, and not the measured 10m, 20m and 30m exclusion zones as before