Protected Species Surveys

At Western Ecology we offer a range of wildlife surveys and protected species surveys, including Badger surveys, reptile surveys and bat and barn owl surveys.

What is a Protected Species Survey?

A protected species survey is a legally required survey for any site where initial surveys have suggested that the site is home to any species considered to be protected or endangered (As identified in Article 12 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 or the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981).

Why Do I Need a Protected Species Survey?

It’s common for additional protected species surveys to be recommended following an Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey or a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal, depending on your site and your proposals. This is because these actions are initial assessments that don’t typically provide sufficient information to support a robust assessment of the potential effects that proposals may have on protected species.

Following the Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey we may recommend further work such as our badger surveys that precisely map badger sett entrances, bat activity transects or reptile surveys. This will largely depend on the habitats at the site, their potential to support protected species and the probable impact of your proposals.

We often need to confirm the presence or absence of protected species, characterise their use of the site and gain an indication of population sizes. It’s essential to understand that your Local Planning Authority is unlikely to issue planning permission for a site that’s subject to protected species survey planning conditions. Therefore, at sites where protected species surveys are recommended, applications cannot normally be registered until these additional surveys have been completed.

Please note: For some of the more obscure species groups, such as fungi and bryophytes, we will normally involve a regional expert.
You should be aware that this can delay an application by several months, so involving an ecologist at the earliest stages of development could save you months of waiting time.

There is a range of protected species that may be affected by developments but don’t worry, it’s our job to support and advise you through our protected species surveys on how best to proceed so that your development meets guidelines and does not breach the relevant nature conservation legislation.

What Constitutes a Protected Species?

A protected species is an animal or plant that is protected by legislation, meaning it’s an offence to intentionally or recklessly harm, damage or destroy the wildlife in question. Preventing access to structures or places used for shelter breeding or protection is also strictly prohibited.

Protected plant species include:

• Creeping Marshwort
• Early Gentian
• Fen Orchid
• Floating-leaved Water Plaintain
• Lilarney Fern
• Lady’s Slipper
• Slender Naiad
• Shore Dock
• Yellow Marsh Saxifrage

The most common protected species issues relate to:

• Nesting birds
• Badgers
• Reptiles
• Bats
• Dormice
• Otters
• Water Voles
• Great Crested Newts
• Slow Worms

Whilst these are the most common species in the South West, there are many other species to take into account. The list of protected species is extensive and also includes plants, fungi, lichens, mosses, insects, amphibians, fish, birds and mammals. A full list of protected species can be found on the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) website.

What Happens if the Protected Species Survey Identifies an Issue?

If the protected species survey indicates the presence of a protected species, there’s almost always a way to move forward with your plans. The actions we recommend to resolve these issues meet industry guidelines and comply with legislation and wildlife conservation guidelines. For example, we may advocate actions such as clearing vegetation only when nesting birds are absent, closing a badger sett, moving reptiles or re-designing lighting or hedge-line positions to avoid adverse impact on commuting bats.

Providing we’re included in the project from the outset, we can either find ways to retain the species within the developed site or, we can work with you to design practical mitigation.

Our protected species surveys will ensure that your planning application has the best potential for approval thereby saving you the delays, headaches and costs involved with a failed application.