ESL - Ecological Services

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  • Ecological Site Assessment
    • Desk Studies
    • Walk-over surveys
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  • 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
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  • Cambourne New Town Development
• Research
  • Monitoring the effect of development on badger social groups
  • The Lincolnshire Limewoods Dormouse Project
• Contact

Water Vole

Our services

• Desk study to identify any known existing populations;
• Habitat and landscape assessments for water voles to establish the potential for their presence;
• Survey of bank sides and riparian strips for signs of presence and activity, initially carried out from the bank top with in-channel surveys from a boat for wider or deeper watercourses;
• Advice on mitigation, including creation of suitable new habitat;
• Translocation of water voles by habitat manipulation and/or trapping under licence for conservation purposes; and
• Monitoring of retained or re-located populations to comply with planning conditions or S106 agreements.

For watercourses where boat-based survey is required ESL have an Avon inflatable with outboard motor and 5 staff members who are qualified boat-handlers, holding the RYA National Powerboat Certificate Level 2 and a relevant first aid qualification.

Timing of surveys

Habitat assessments can be carried out at any time of year. Water voles don’t hibernate but do become less active above ground in winter, particularly during periods of frost or snow cover. Surveys can be carried out, and often positive signs of presence can be found, at any time of the year. However, a survey finding no signs of occupation in suitable habitat during the winter would need to be repeated during the main activity period, March-September.

Click here for information on why a survey is required.

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