ESL - Ecological Services

• Home
• Services
  • Ecological Site Assessment
    • Desk Studies
    • Walk-over surveys
    • Report
  • Ecological Impact Assessment
  • Specialist Surveys
    • Breeding Bird Surveys
    • Invertebrate Surveys
    • Arboricultural Surveys
    • Wintering Bird Surveys
    • Botanical Surveys

  • Protected Species
    • Great Crested Newts
    • Reptiles
    • Bats
    • Water Vole
    • Dormouse
    • Badger
    • Otter
    • White-clawed crayfish
    • Barn Owl
  • Habitat Design and Creation
    • Bat and bird boxes
    • Ponds and Watercourses
    • Trees and woodland management
• Staff Profiles
  • Anne Goodall
  • Dave Hughes
  • Brian Hedley
  • Vanessa Tindale
  • Andrew Malkinson
  • Jackie Nicholson
  • John Pover
  • The Field Team
• Case Studies
  • Cambourne New Town Development
• Research
  • Monitoring the effect of development on badger social groups
  • The Lincolnshire Limewoods Dormouse Project
• Contact

Botanical Surveys

Our services

ESL have been undertaking a wide range of botanical surveys for 14 years for both initial and more detailed assessments. These include:

• Phase 1 habitat/land use surveys
• River corridor surveys
• Hedgerow surveys
  These would normally form part of an initial site assessment, but may be used alone, for example as part of a biodiversity audit; to monitor improvements to river corridor quality, following management; or to identify or monitor BAP habitats, respectively.
• Phase 2 plant community surveys
• National Vegetation Classification (NVC) surveys
  These two are closely linked, and either may follow an initial Phase 1 survey to provide more information on the plant community and thus assess their biodiversity value, either to identify potential Local Wildlife Sites, or as part of an ecological baseline assessment.
• Aquatic macrophyte surveys
• Fixed quadrat monitoring
  These are just two examples of a number of forms of botanical monitoring, normally undertaken to demonstrate the (potential) effects of changes due to management, mitigation measures, natural succession, etc.
• Invasive plant surveys and advice on treatment

Timing of surveys

A highly experienced ecologist can carry out an initial site assessment at almost any time of year, other than under snow cover, since they will be trained to recognise vegetative grasses and basal leaves of perennials and to identify woody species by their bark and winter buds. This will allow most plant communities to be recognised, and recommendation for further survey to be provided where necessary.

However, the more detailed surveys need to be carried out during the growing period of the target species. This may be spring (March-May) for winter annuals (eg on heathland) or late summer (July-September) for aquatics, although most species can be recorded during May-September at least. For a small number of species timing can be more sensitive, and senior staff can advise on this.

Why undertake Botanical Surveys?

Although only a small number of very rare species have statutory protection, a greater number are the subject of local and national Biodiversity Action Plans, and particular hedges may fulfil the criteria set out in the Hedgerow Regulations. Correct identification of plant communities is also critical to identifying a number of habitats which have Habitat Action Plans, and monitoring, sometimes quite tiny, changes in these communities may be similarly critical when determining the success or otherwise of changes in management such as grazing, mowing or stalking.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Think we can help you? Contact us to find out,
on 01522 539325 or (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)