All bat species, their breeding sites and resting places are fully protected under UK and European legislation, including:
Current laws make it illegal to:
If structures or trees stand to be affected by works, even if temporarily through disturbance, a Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA) survey is required. If evidence of bats is found and/or the tree or structure is considered to have the potential to support roosting bats, then further surveys (often called ‘phase 2 surveys’) will be required to support your proposals. If works stand to affect habitats that could be used for bats for commuting and foraging, usually in a more long-term or permanent way, further surveys may also be required to ascertain site usage by bats.
Survey methods include:
Survey seasons
PRAs can be carried out at any time of the year. However, if a bat activity or emergence/re-entry survey is required to verify usage, species and types of roost, these must be carried out during the active season for bats (May-September). Sites can be assessed for their potential to support hibernation roosts throughout the year, but are best inspected by a licensed ecologist during the autumn and winter months to check for usage.
The aim of carrying out bat assessment works is to inform our clients on the best ways to reduce impacts to bats using the site. Once survey work is complete, we are able to interpret results and provide a detailed report on likely impacts and how to avoid, mitigate and compensate for these.
We would first explore ways to avoid impacts altogether. Avoidance measures could include:
If avoidance is not possible, works could proceed if carefully mitigated against. Mitigation and compensation measures could include:
To enhance the habitat for bats and increase site biodiversity, we may also propose the creation of additional hedgerows or scrub to create corridors for wildlife, which will also encourage foraging. Also, wherever suitable, we will suggest that trees are reduced to a monolith rather than completely removed and left as standing deadwood.
If works will affect roosts or significant habitats used by bats, a mitigation licence may be required from Natural England before works can proceed. Licensing requirements vary depending on several factors, such as the type of roost, species, and the number of roosts, but our specialist bat ecologists can advise on such requirements. A mitigation licence requires that there is no net loss of roosting opportunities, roost types are replaced like-for-like and that the affected bat population can continue to use the site as before.
Our experienced bat ecologists can help to design compensation and enhancement measures to obtain the necessary licences from Natural England, should these be necessary.
The larger eight-toothed European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) is considered a serious pest on spruce and was first discovered in the UK in Kent, in 2018. If left uncontrolled, it poses a serious threat to Britain's forestry industry.
Following ongoing surveillance further findings of Ips typographus have since been confirmed, resulting in a demarcated area covering much of the south East of England. Within the demarcated area strict restrictions are in place that prevent the felling and movement of spruce wood, bark and branches without authorisation.
Work is now being carried out in an effort to eradicate this beetle by removing spruce from areas at risk of infestation.
We are currently undertaking the proactive removal of spruce from within the demarcated area for private and public landowners, before the trees become infected, or if the landowner has received a Statutory Plant Health Notice (SPHN), which can adversely affect the value and restrict the timing of the operation.
Having well-established relationships with the Forestry Commission, as well as agreements in place with authorised processors, we are able offer a complete service that covers the felling, extraction and marketing of your spruce, ensuring that you receive the best commercial return possible.
We can also help with grant applications to reclaim some of the costs involved in felling and restocking your woodland.
After taking some details in regards to your woodland we will arrange a site visit to appraise the standing timber and site constraints and hazards. We will also notify the Forestry Commision and arrange a Plant Health inspection to determine the presence (or absence of) of the beetle.
We have arrangements in place with a number of authorised processors situated within the demarcated area, allowing us to offer your timber to multiple buyers and outlets.
We will submit a formal valuation offer based on the findings of the site visit, as well as the quantity and quality of timber.
If the offer is accepted then we will prepare the site for temporary or permanent access to allow for efficient harvesting.
We work with the aim of optimising the value of your timber, and will cut a range of products, subject to timber quality, size, volume and any SPHN requirements.
As part of our service, we will handle the dispatch of all harvested material to the authorised processors.
Following harvesting operations we will prepare the site and select suitable species to achieve a thriving healthy woodland that is suited to the landscape, soils and our changing climate.
Our team can assist you in creating, planning, and managing your woodland's future, leaving behind a woodland that is fit for purpose, and for the benefit of future generations.
All bat species, their breeding sites and resting places are fully protected under UK and European legislation, including:
Current laws make it illegal to:
If structures or trees stand to be affected by works, even if temporarily through disturbance, a Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA) survey is required. If evidence of bats is found and/or the tree or structure is considered to have the potential to support roosting bats, then further surveys (often called ‘phase 2 surveys’) will be required to support your proposals. If works stand to affect habitats that could be used for bats for commuting and foraging, usually in a more long-term or permanent way, further surveys may also be required to ascertain site usage by bats.
Survey methods include:
Survey seasons
PRAs can be carried out at any time of the year. However, if a bat activity or emergence/re-entry survey is required to verify usage, species and types of roost, these must be carried out during the active season for bats (May-September). Sites can be assessed for their potential to support hibernation roosts throughout the year, but are best inspected by a licensed ecologist during the autumn and winter months to check for usage.
The aim of carrying out bat assessment works is to inform our clients on the best ways to reduce impacts to bats using the site. Once survey work is complete, we are able to interpret results and provide a detailed report on likely impacts and how to avoid, mitigate and compensate for these.
We would first explore ways to avoid impacts altogether. Avoidance measures could include:
If avoidance is not possible, works could proceed if carefully mitigated against. Mitigation and compensation measures could include:
To enhance the habitat for bats and increase site biodiversity, we may also propose the creation of additional hedgerows or scrub to create corridors for wildlife, which will also encourage foraging. Also, wherever suitable, we will suggest that trees are reduced to a monolith rather than completely removed and left as standing deadwood.
If works will affect roosts or significant habitats used by bats, a mitigation licence may be required from Natural England before works can proceed. Licensing requirements vary depending on several factors, such as the type of roost, species, and the number of roosts, but our specialist bat ecologists can advise on such requirements. A mitigation licence requires that there is no net loss of roosting opportunities, roost types are replaced like-for-like and that the affected bat population can continue to use the site as before.
Our experienced bat ecologists can help to design compensation and enhancement measures to obtain the necessary licences from Natural England, should these be necessary.
All bat species, their breeding sites and resting places are fully protected under UK and European legislation, including:
Current laws make it illegal to:
If structures or trees stand to be affected by works, even if temporarily through disturbance, a Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA) survey is required. If evidence of bats is found and/or the tree or structure is considered to have the potential to support roosting bats, then further surveys (often called ‘phase 2 surveys’) will be required to support your proposals. If works stand to affect habitats that could be used for bats for commuting and foraging, usually in a more long-term or permanent way, further surveys may also be required to ascertain site usage by bats.
Survey methods include:
Survey seasons
PRAs can be carried out at any time of the year. However, if a bat activity or emergence/re-entry survey is required to verify usage, species and types of roost, these must be carried out during the active season for bats (May-September). Sites can be assessed for their potential to support hibernation roosts throughout the year, but are best inspected by a licensed ecologist during the autumn and winter months to check for usage.
The aim of carrying out bat assessment works is to inform our clients on the best ways to reduce impacts to bats using the site. Once survey work is complete, we are able to interpret results and provide a detailed report on likely impacts and how to avoid, mitigate and compensate for these.
We would first explore ways to avoid impacts altogether. Avoidance measures could include:
If avoidance is not possible, works could proceed if carefully mitigated against. Mitigation and compensation measures could include:
To enhance the habitat for bats and increase site biodiversity, we may also propose the creation of additional hedgerows or scrub to create corridors for wildlife, which will also encourage foraging. Also, wherever suitable, we will suggest that trees are reduced to a monolith rather than completely removed and left as standing deadwood.
If works will affect roosts or significant habitats used by bats, a mitigation licence may be required from Natural England before works can proceed. Licensing requirements vary depending on several factors, such as the type of roost, species, and the number of roosts, but our specialist bat ecologists can advise on such requirements. A mitigation licence requires that there is no net loss of roosting opportunities, roost types are replaced like-for-like and that the affected bat population can continue to use the site as before.
Our experienced bat ecologists can help to design compensation and enhancement measures to obtain the necessary licences from Natural England, should these be necessary.
The railway is home to many bat species. In the summer, they can be found in trees roosting in cavities, rot holes and under loose bark, and in lineside structures. In the colder months, cracks and crevices inside tunnels can provide excellent hibernation opportunities for bats.
All bat species, their breeding sites and resting places are fully protected under UK and European legislation, including:
Current laws make it illegal to:
If structures or trees stand to be affected by works, even if temporarily through disturbance, a Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA) survey is required. If evidence of bats is found and/or the tree or structure is considered to have the potential to support roosting bats, then further surveys (often called ‘phase 2 surveys’) will be required to support your proposals. If works stand to affect habitats that could be used for bats for commuting and foraging, usually in a more long-term or permanent way, further surveys may also be required to ascertain site usage by bats.
Survey methods include:
Survey seasons
PRAs can be carried out at any time of the year. However, if a bat activity or emergence/re-entry survey is required to verify usage, species and types of roost, these must be carried out during the active season for bats (May-September). Sites can be assessed for their potential to support hibernation roosts throughout the year, but are best inspected by a licensed ecologist during the autumn and winter months to check for usage.
The aim of carrying out bat assessment works is to inform our clients on the best ways to reduce impacts to bats using the site. Once survey work is complete, we are able to interpret results and provide a detailed report on likely impacts and how to avoid, mitigate and compensate for these.
We would first explore ways to avoid impacts altogether. Avoidance measures could include:
If avoidance is not possible, works could proceed if carefully mitigated against. Mitigation and compensation measures could include:
To enhance the habitat for bats and increase site biodiversity, we may also propose the creation of additional hedgerows or scrub to create corridors for wildlife, which will also encourage foraging. Also, wherever suitable, we will suggest that trees are reduced to a monolith rather than completely removed and left as standing deadwood.
If works will affect roosts or significant habitats used by bats, a mitigation licence may be required from Natural England before works can proceed. Licensing requirements vary depending on several factors, such as the type of roost, species, and the number of roosts, but our specialist bat ecologists can advise on such requirements. A mitigation licence requires that there is no net loss of roosting opportunities, roost types are replaced like-for-like and that the affected bat population can continue to use the site as before.
Our experienced bat ecologists can help to design compensation and enhancement measures to obtain the necessary licences from Natural England, should these be necessary.
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