Habitat and protected species surveys.

ESL has over 25 years experience of undertaking habitat and protected species surveys and can provide objective and pragmatic advice on a range of issues, including:

  • The design of cost effective mitigation strategies,
  • Liaison with statutory consultees,
  • Obtaining Natural England development licences,
  • Carrying out species translocations and habitat creation work,
  • Writing habitat management plans,
  • Providing Ecological Clerk of Works, and;
  • Habitat and species monitoring.

Habitat & Plant Surveys

  • Phase -1 Habitat mapping
  • National Vegetation Classification (NVC)
  • Hedgerow Regulations surveys
  • Invasive species recording and monitoring
Image of a tree and rainbow in background

Amphibians & Reptile Surveys

  • Great crested newt - presence/absence
  • Great crested newt - e-DNA
  • European Protected Species licencing
  • Reptiles - presence/absence surveys
  • Species translocation and monitoring
Holding a Smooth Snake

Invertebrates

  • Preliminary site assessments
  • Beating & Sweep netting
  • Malaise & pitfall trapping
  • Aquatic kick sampling
Painted Lady Butterfly

Birds

  • Breeding bird surveys using BTO codes and terrritory mapping
  • Winter birds surveys - transect
  • Vantage point surveys
  • Barn owl surveys
  • Nesting bird checks
Barn Owl in Loft

Bats

  • Preliminary Roost Assessment of buildings and trees
  • Emergence watches
  • Walked transects and backtracking
  • Acoustic sampling with static detectors
  • Mist netting & Radio tracking
holding a bat wearing a white glove

Badgers

  • Presence/absence surveys
  • Territorial bait marking surveys
  • Sett closure under Natural England Class licence
  • Advice on main sett creation and monitoring
daytime image of a badger

Water vole & Otters

  • Presence/absence surveys
  • Detailed activity mapping down to 50cm accuracy
  • Water vole displacement under Natural England Class licence
  • Water vole trapping and translocation under Natural England licence
Image of Water Vole on bank near water

Dormice

  • Presence/absence surveys using nest tubes and nut hunts.

Note: ESL staff were instrumental in the reintroduction of dormice into the Lincolnshire Limewoods in 2002, and set up the Lincolnshire Dormice Group which continues to monitor them.

image of a dormouse