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Protected Species
Amphibians
The great crested newt and the pool frog are the only British amphibians which are European Protected Species (EPS). The pool frog is very rare and unlikely to be found on development sites. However, developers need to be aware of the possibility of great crested newts being present on their land and the implications of their presence. Phlorum can undertake the surveys, including netting, torching refuge searches, bottle-trapping, liaison with planning authorities and advice on the number and extent of surveys required.
Badgers
It is illegal to disturb a badger while it is within a sett. If the presence of badgers is suspected on a development site then assessments need to be carried out, such as monitoring badger activity, setts and foraging areas. If necessary a sett can be closed with approval from the appropriate body, such as Natural England (NE), Countryside Council for Wales (CCW), or Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).
Bats
All species of bat and their habitat are protected in the UK. Phlorum can provide biological data and literature reviews to form a desk study. Internal and external building inspection surveys. To assess the presence of bats at a site emergence surveys can be undertaken.
Reptiles
Reptiles are often found on brownfield sites. Therefore, it is often that a planning authority will require refuge searches to establish the presence and population sizes of retiles on a proposed development site. Phlorum can provide refugia hand searches and reptile surveys to assess population densities.
Water Voles and Otters
In areas close to rivers or canals, standard searches for field signs and habitats are often required for planning applications.
Dormice
Dormice are largely confined to southern England. Nest tube searches and nut searches can be undertaken to assess the presence of dormice.
Birds
It is an offence to damage or destroy a bird's nest or their eggs and some species of birds (Schedule 1 birds) have protection from disturbance while breeding. Surveying protected species or potential breeding areas is therefore advisable if any clearance of vegetation or other activities that may cause disturbance to birds are being undertaken during the breeding season.
Plants
Tree protection orders may exist on some trees and assessment of the screening properties of tree may be required for some planning applications. On some more sensitive sites vascular and lower plant surveys and detailed vegetation surveys (e.g. following the National Vegetation Classification system) may be required.
