ESL (Ecological Services) Ltd - Habitat and Protected Species Surveys

Habitat and protected species surveys.

ESL has over 25 years experience of undertaking habitat and protected species surveys and can provide objective and pragmatic advice on a range of issues, including:

The design of cost effective mitigation strategies,
Liaison with statutory consultees,
Obtaining Natural England development licences,
Carrying out species translocations and habitat creation work,
Writing habitat management plans,
Providing Ecological Clerk of Works, and;
Habitat and species monitoring.

Habitat & Plant Surveys

Phase -1 Habitat mapping
National Vegetation Classification (NVC)
Hedgerow Regulations surveys
Invasive species recording and monitoring

Image of a tree and rainbow in background

Amphibians & Reptile Surveys

Great crested newt - presence/absence
Great crested newt - e-DNA
European Protected Species licencing
Reptiles - presence/absence surveys
Species translocation and monitoring

Holding a Smooth Snake

Invertebrates

Preliminary site assessments
Beating & Sweep netting
Malaise & pitfall trapping
Aquatic kick sampling

Painted Lady Butterfly

Birds

Breeding bird surveys using BTO codes and terrritory mapping
Winter birds surveys - transect
Vantage point surveys
Barn owl surveys
Nesting bird checks

Barn Owl in Loft

Bats

Preliminary Roost Assessment of buildings and trees
Emergence watches
Walked transects and backtracking
Acoustic sampling with static detectors
Mist netting & Radio tracking

holding a bat wearing a white glove

Badgers

Presence/absence surveys
Territorial bait marking surveys
Sett closure under Natural England Class licence
Advice on main sett creation and monitoring

daytime image of a badger

Water vole & Otters

Presence/absence surveys
Detailed activity mapping down to 50cm accuracy
Water vole displacement under Natural England Class licence
Water vole trapping and translocation under Natural England licence

Image of Water Vole on bank near water

Dormice

Presence/absence surveys using nest tubes and nut hunts.

Note: ESL staff were instrumental in the reintroduction of dormice into the Lincolnshire Limewoods in 2002, and set up the Lincolnshire Dormice Group which continues to monitor them.

image of a dormouse