SERVICES
Phillips Ecology will provide clear ecological support throughout the lifetime of your project. From preliminary surveys prior to your planning submission to meeting the requirements of planning conditions and obligations.We undertake all ecological survey, assessment and mitigation work necessary to support your application including preliminary ecological appraisals, extended phase 1 ecological surveys, bat surveys, dormouse surveys, great crested newt surveys, reptile surveys and badger surveys.
Bat Survey
The bat survey process starts with a preliminary roost assessment. This will be carried out during the daytime and will comprise a survey for evidence of bat activity and suitable roosting features on buildings and trees. If neither are recorded, no further survey work will be required. If suitable features and/or evidence of bat activity are recorded during the preliminary roost assessment, the is a requirement to carry out further surveys. For this reason, it is important to schedule preliminary roost assessments as early in the project as possible.
Further surveys comprise activity surveys which are carried out at dusk and dawn. Typically, between one and three surveys are required to satisfy the requirements of the local planning authority and establish whether bat roosts are present or absent, and if present, the status of the roost. Depending on the scale of the proposal, it may also be necessary to undertake specific further surveys to establish the importance of the site for foraging and commuting bats.
When we can survey
Preliminary roost survey between Jan to Dec
Activity surveys between
Optimal survey months – May to Sept
Sub-optimal survey months – Apr & Oct
Hibernation surveys Jan to Feb & Nov to Dec
Dormouse Survey
Dormouse surveys are required to identify whether hazel dormice are present on a site. The requirement for surveys depends on the presence of suitable habitat (woodland, hedgerows and scrub) on site and the location of the proposal within the UK. For instance, dormouse surveys are frequently required in Hampshire because the species range is widespread in this County, whereas they are infrequently required in Norfolk as the species is largely absent from the County.
Dormouse surveys comprise positioning at least 50 nest tubes within suitable habitat and checking them for a number of months throughout the active season. Dormouse surveys can be lengthy, therefore, it is important to commence them as early in the year as possible.
When we can survey
Nest Tube Survey between Apr to Nov
Nut Search Survey between
Optimal survey months – Aug to Nov
Sub-0ptimal survey months – Jan to July
Great Crested Newt Survey
Great crested newt surveys may be required to support your planning application if a pond is present on site or within 500m of the site. As you will see below, the survey window for great crested newts is relatively small so please do contact us as early as possible if you are unsure whether your project could impact great crested newts. Surveys comprise up to six visits during the spring survey season using a range of techniques to detect great crested newts.
When we can survey
Pond surveys between
Optimal survey months – Apr to Jun
Sub-optimal survey months – Mar
Otter & Water Voles
Otters and water voles will need to be surveyed for if your site contains a river, stream, ditch or drain and you will be affecting the water course and/or habitat within 5 metres of the bank top. Surveys for both species involve methodical searches of the watercourse and bank sides for fields signs.
When we can survey
Otter survey between Jan to Dec
Water vole survey between Apr to Oct
Badger Survey
Surveys are required to check for the presence of active badger setts on or within 30m of a site. Once a badger sett has been located, a range of techniques can be used to establish whether the sett is currently active and what status the sett is. Badger setts are more easily found during the winter when vegetation is lower and thinner.
When we can survey
Sett/activity surveys between
Optimal survey months – Jan to Apr & Nov to Dec
Sub-optimal survey months – May to Oct
Reptile Survey
Reptile surveys may be required if your proposal will result in the loss of suitable habitat such as brown-field habitat, unmanaged gardens and rough grassland. The need for surveys is assessed on a case-by-case basis and will take the location of the site, the scale of habitat loss and the presence of historical reptile records into consideration.
Reptile surveys comprise distributing artificial refuges throughout suitable habitat. The refuges are attractive to reptiles as they warm faster than surround habitat, allowing reptiles to raise their temperature more quickly. Attracting reptiles to certain areas of the site (i.e. refuges) helps speed up detection rates. The refuges and surrounding habitat will be surveyed for reptiles on a number of occasions at suitable times of the year in order to establish the population size and distribution of reptiles within a site.
When we can survey
Reptile survey between
Optimal survey months – Apr, May & Sept
Sub-optimal survey months – Mar, Jun, Jul, Aug & Oct
Protected Species Licence Applications
Licences are required to carry out works which affect protected species and would otherwise be illegal. Natural England are responsible for assessing and issuing licences. Licences can only be applied for when all of the necessary surveys are complete and a mitigation strategy which will reduce the impact of the works has been devised. Most licences are only granted after planning permission has been granted and any pre-commencement conditions which relate to the species in question have been discharged. Natural England will decide whether to issue a licence within 30 days of receiving the application. We are able to apply for licences for a range of protected species. If you are concerned your proposal may require a protected species licence, please do contact us to discuss the likely time-frames and costs associated with a licence application.
Bird Survey
Licences are required to carry out works which affect protected species and would otherwise be illegal. Natural England are responsible for assessing and issuing licences. Licences can only be applied for when all of the necessary surveys are complete and a mitigation strategy which will reduce the impact of the works has been devised. Most licences are only granted after planning permission has been granted and any pre-commencement conditions which relate to the species in question have been discharged. Natural England will decide whether to issue a licence within 30 days of receiving the application. We are able to apply for licences for a range of protected species. If you are concerned your proposal may require a protected species licence, please do contact us to discuss the likely time-frames and costs associated with a licence application.
When we can survey
Breeding bird surveys between Mar to Jun
Wintering bird surveys between Jan to Mar & Oct to Dec
Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA)
and Extended Phase 1 Ecological Assessment
These are typically the first step in the ecological survey process and are frequently requested by Local Planning Authorities to establish whether a site supports suitability for protected species. If the site does not, these will meet the requirements of local planning authority, however, they may identify that further survey work is required to establish the presence/absence of protected species.
Preliminary ecological appraisals and extended phase 1 ecological surveys can be carried out at any time of year. Though they are best carried out at the beginning of a project in order to ensure that any necessary further surveys can be worked in to the project timescales.
Plan : Sustain : Implement
Warwick House
Glebe Avenue
Hunstanton
King’s Lynn
Norfolk
PE36 6BS