Spring is just around the corner, and March marks the beginning of a very busy season for many species, particularly breeding birds. Most breeding birds nest between March and August, with some early breeders nesting before March, and others raising second clutches into early September.

All birds, their nests and eggs are protected by law and can therefore lead to delays in developments if not considered early in a project.

Other species which should be considered early in a development project include bats, great crested newts, reptiles, dormouse, water vole, otter and badger. All of these species can be surveyed for over the spring/summer months, with several of these species having a limited survey period.

Please see below for a range of ecological services Neo Environmental can offer for the spring/summer months.

Ornithological services offered by Neo Environmental

• Desk studies, scoping studies and consultations
• Walkover surveys to map and count wintering populations within a study area
• Vantage Point (VP) watches through all seasons, recording time and height of birds within a risk area
• Calculation of Collision Risk using VP watch data
• Advice on avoidance, reduction and mitigation of potential impacts on breeding bird populations during development works
• Full written report with results, analysis, recommendations and mitigation where necessary
• Ecological clerks of works

Ecological services offered by Neo Environmental

• Badger surveys
• Otter surveys
• Water vole surveys
• Dormouse surveys
• Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) surveys for great crested newts (GCN)
• Presence/absence and population surveys for GCN
• Bat roost assessments
• Bat hibernation surveys
• Bat activity surveys
• Phase 1 habitat surveys
• NVC Surveys (including highlighting GWDTE)
• BREEAM assessments
• Freshwater fish habitat assessments
• Desk studies, scoping studies and consultations
• Full written report with results, analysis, recommendations and mitigation where necessary
• Habitat management plans
• Mitigation plans
• Ecological clerks of works

To discuss you project requirements, please contact Dawn by email dawn@neo-environmental.co.uk or telephone 0141 773 6262.