​Don't leave it too late to plan your ecology surveys!
Spring is in the air and this is an important time for planning ecology surveys.
If there are ponds close to your development site, great crested newt surveys may be required. These need to be carried out between mid March and Mid June with multiple survey visits required. Access to ponds off site up to 500m away can be required, with permission from third party landowners needed in advance, so planning ahead is vital.
If there are woodlands or hedgerows to be affected, now is a good time to set up any dormouse surveys needed, allowing for the regular survey visits throughout the spring, summer and autumn.
For projects affecting buildings or trees an early assessment of their potential for roosting bats will allow plenty of time for bat emergence or activity surveys during the spring, summer and autumn.
Missing the optimum season for these and other surveys can cause delays to planning applications, or to carrying out work on site so seek advice from an ecologist at an early stage in your project to allow plenty of time for any seasonal surveys.
Alison is a freelance ecological consultant with over fourteen years' experience managing ecological projects, undertaking survey work and providing specialist ecological advice for large and small scale projects in the UK and overseas.
​Alison is a full member of CIEEM and a Chartered Environmentalist.
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