Castle Hill Ecology

Ecological Consultancy

  • Welcome
  • About
    • Why Castle Hill Ecology?
  • Services
    • Habitat Surveys
    • European Protected Species Surveys
    • Protected Species Surveys
    • Ecological Mitigation
  • Research and Publications
  • Greek Island Bat Research
    • Ikaria
    • Chios
      • Bats In Chios
      • Research on Bats in Chios
    • Kos
    • Andros
    • Lesvos
    • Lesvos – Part 2
    • Naxos
  • Contact

Habitat Surveys

Phase 1 Habitat Survey

Distinct habitats within a site are mapped in accordance with Phase 1 Habitat survey methodology (JNCC, 2010), based on the plant species present. From this mapping of habitats, the Phase 1 Habitat survey is often extended to assess the sites’ potential to support protected species such as bats, breeding birds, and great crested newts.

 

Preliminary Ecological Appraisal

A Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) is usually required early on in the planning process to determine the ecological impacts of a proposed development and inform the need for any further species-specific surveys. A Phase 1 Habitat survey forms the basis of a PEA, which is extended to assess the sites’ potential to support protected species.

As part of a PEA, Habitat Suitability Index assessments are undertaken on waterbodies to determine their potential to support great crested newts, structures and trees are assessed for their potential to support bat species, field signs of notable species are recorded, and the site is checked for the presence of invasive non-native species.

 

Hedgerow Survey

Under the Hedgerow Regulations 1997 it is against the law to remove most hedgerows without permission. Carried out either as part of a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal or a stand-alone survey, a hedgerow survey assesses each hedgerow against a set of criteria to determine if it is ‘important’ or ‘not important’. To qualify as ‘important’ a hedgerow must be at least 30 years old and meet at least one of the main criteria.

LinkedIn

View Rachel Bates's profile on LinkedIn

Facebook Page

Facebook Page
Castle Hill Ecology is the trading name of Castle Hill Ecology Ltd. Registered in England: Company Number: 09528878.
Address: 5 The Maltings, 41 High Street, Chesterton, Cambridge, CB4 1NQ
Mob: 07534 340964 - Email: info (at) castlehillecology.co.uk

Copyright Castle Hill Ecology© 2022