Appendix H: Ecological Survey – what to look for

 

A survey should seek to identify the potential for protected species on Site including:

• Badger (Meles meles) – areas that might be used for foraging and sett building. Incidental foraging signs, tree scratching, paths, latrines and setts were recorded if found (Harris et al., 1989). A 30m buffer of the whole Site was also surveyed, where practicable, most of which was viewed from the Site boundaries.

• Reptiles – areas that could be used for insolation, shelter, foraging and breeding.

• Bats – suitable trees and natural features for roosting together with suitable roosting opportunities within buildings on Site.

• Birds – areas of habitat/structures that may be used for constructing a nest or for foraging.

• Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)– evidence including droppings and suitable foraging and sheltering habitat.

• Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus) – suitable habitat such as arable fields and rough field margins

together with individual animals.

• Polecat (Mustela putorious) – evidence of the presence of suitable habitat such as woodland, riverbank and surrounding farmland mosaic.

• Harvest mouse (Micromys minutes) – evidence of the presence of suitable habitat such as arable fields and stiff-grassed meadows or the presence of nests.

• Great crested newt (Triturus cristatus) – waterbodies scored for their suitability for use by breeding newts (assessed using the Habitat Suitability Index). Terrestrial habitat  also to be assessed for suitability to support newts, suitable watercourses within or adjacent to the Site resulting in the Site being suitable for otter, water vole, white-clawed crayfish and fish.

Suitable hedgerows connected to suitable structured woodland with flowering and fruiting species suitable for dormice.