It has been a busy first quarter for the ecology department at Neo, with various site work and reporting being undertaken. Site work so far includes the end of the wintering bird surveys, otter and badger surveys as well as ecological clerks of works (ECoW) at a solar development within the Clackmannanshire council area, and a flood prevention scheme within Edinburgh Council catchment area.

Currently Neo are assisting McLaughlin & Harvey at the Leith Flood Prevention Scheme by undertaken pre-commencement ecological surveys, provided guidance and mitigation, supervising the installation of an artificial otter holt (photograph below), and undertaken ECoW watching briefs as part of the European Protected Species Licence for otter which has been granted by SNH.

Over the next few months the ecology team at Neo will be extremely busy undertaking surveys for breeding birds, great crested newts, bats, otters and badgers; to name but a few species. As some species are only active a short period within the year, the spring and summer months are a particularly busy time for field work. The ecology team at Neo are always happy to aid new and existing clients, so get in touch today should you require any advice.