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Household waste recycling centre extension

  • September 19, 2019
  • Blog

Common lizard at Mildenhall

WFE provided an ECoW to oversee the extension of Mildenhall Household Waste Recycling Centre. Following pre-construction surveys, which found a small population of common lizards, carefully timed clearance of vegetation was advised to ensure minimal impacts to breeding birds and reptile species.

Prior to clearance works a suitably qualified ECoW walked over the site and confirmed that no birds were nesting. Vegetation was then cut to ground level under ECoW supervision and maintained at a low height to discourage common lizards and other terrestrial animal species from using the area.  

The ECoW was present on site whilst the ground layer was stripped and tree stumps removed. The remaining common lizards were successfully trans-located by hand away from the worked area.

9 turbine windfarm site in Essex

  • September 19, 2019
  • Blog
Graham watching turf stripping

Graham watching turf stripping

WFE provided ECoW on a 9 turbine windfarm site in Essex. The ECoW works involved pre-construction surveys for breeding and wintering birds, badgers, water voles and reptiles.

The turbines were delivered to the site by barge and tracks from the marine landing were upgraded. The site of the windfarm is arable fields with drainage ditches. These were crossed by new and upgraded access tracks.

As ECoW for the project, WFE oversaw the implementation of habitat management via vegetation clearance to deter water voles and reptiles from ditch crossing points and on the sea wall near the marine landing.

We also oversaw the demarcation of buffers around key features and the execution of mitigation strategies for badger, water voles and reptiles. As the site was near an SPA, observations on brent geese were conducted during the delivery of the turbines, with the potential to modify the deliveries to prevent any disturbance.

All works were completed on site and the wind farm is operating. WFE are now involved in post-construction monitoring of the development.

Temporary removal of common lizards and natterjack toads

  • September 19, 2019
  • Blog
Watching the digger strip the vegetation

Watching the digger strip the vegetation

Temporary removal of common lizards and natterjack toads from an area of sea wall at Burnham Overy in North Norfolk scheduled for engineering works. Work was conducted under at EPS licence. 338 lizards and 10 natterjacks were moved to the adjacent dune system prior to the works commencing. Potential water vole burrows were also searched before access for plant could be constructed across a ditch.

WFE performed a watching brief during works, rescuing several more lizards as the vegetation was removed. A new reptile and amphibian hibernaculum was created.

For more on this project follow read the full case study here.

Restoration of derelict barns in North Norfolk

Restoration of derelict barns in North Norfolk, for conversion into residential accommodation.

WFE undertook an initial assessment followed by protected species surveys for bats and barn owls, and following planning permission, worked closely with the developer to obtain an EPS licence for the bats roosting within the main barn.

A nearby pond was also surveyed for great crested newts, although none were found, and thus removed the need for further consideration of this species.

Site survey & assessment for 1000 home development

  • September 19, 2019
  • Blog

Site survey, assessment and CEMP for a thousand home development proposal in Norwich. The site is currently a golf course, so WFE had to work closely with the site owners to organise timely access for surveys.

The site held several bat roosts, and contained a number of mature trees, as well as a small badger sett. The client was informed by an Ecological Constraints and Opportunities Plan, and designed the development with constraints in mind.

Planning permission was given and the first phase of construction is due to start shortly.

Underground Cable Route

  • April 22, 2019
  • Blog

Will conducts a Phase 1 survey

Will conducts a Phase 1 survey

The largest Phase 1 survey Wild Frontier Ecology has conducted covered the zone of influence of a 45 km underground cable route, stretching from the North Norfolk Coast to central Norfolk. The route was buffered by 70 to 100 metres and walked by a team of trained surveyors. Habitats were classified and mapped to JNCC standards. Habitat maps were provided for the whole route and also at a smaller scale for each 1 km grid square the route passed through. Maps were supported by detailed target notes and photographs which highlighted habitat features and potential protected species issues.


Further specialist arboricultural and hedgerow surveys were then undertaken in some areas to minimise damage to habitats and inform a locally sensitive hedgerow re-planting scheme. WFE provided significant input into the survey design to ensure it provided the developer with all the necessary information to ensure sensitive habitats and features could be avoided.

Nine housing proposals in Essex

  • April 22, 2019
  • Blog

Arboricultural surveys

Wild Frontier Ecology provide combined ecological  and arboricultural assessment together with and Code for Sustainable Homes reports on nine housing proposals in Essex.

Some of the existing houses on the sites were still occupied, but by working together with the housing authority we caused minimum disturbance to the residents, and completed cost and time efficient surveys.

 

Appraisal of two golf courses

Preliminary ecological appraisal of two golf courses

Golf course, Norfolk

Persimmon Homes commissioned WFE to provide a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal of two golf courses in Norfolk. We conducted a desk study and Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey. These were used to provide detailed ecological constraints and opportunities mapping and to help identify key ecological features on the two sites.

Further protected species surveys were advised, including bat surveys, reptile surveys and breeding bird surveys. These were used to further inform the design and development of the sites, and future Ecological Impact Assessment screening.

NVC survey of Thompson Water

  • April 22, 2019
  • Blog
Thompson Common

Thompson Common

WFE undertook NVC survey of Thompson Water, Carr and Common SSSI in Norfolk on behalf of Natural England as part of their ongoing monitoring of SSSIs. The surveys focused on identifying the communities for which the SSSI is noted, including a range of swamp, fen, woodland and grassland communities. The surveys provided detailed NVC maps of the site, detailed descriptions of the communities identified, target notes of key features, assessment of the management issues and recommendations. Advice was given on the effects of different grazing animals on the site, leading to options for changes in management.

Wind Farm Development

  • April 22, 2019
  • Blog
Sphagnum capillifolium in the Welsh uplands

Sphagnum capillifolium in the Welsh uplands

WFE also worked on a potential wind farm development in the mountains of mid-Wales. We undertook a set of habitat and protected species surveys. The site consisted of nearly 15km2 of open mountain side with few existing tracks or roads. With the aid of aerial photos and GPS, our botanists undertook a full survey of the site to create an accurate Phase 1 habitat map and NVC mapping. This will aid the future site planning, identifying key bog habitats which should be avoided by the development.

Over 150 quadrats were sampled and 14 distinct habitat types were identified, ranging from mire to acid grassland, with a variety of distinct bog pool communities. The most common habitat type was Molinia caerulea-Potentilla erecta mire.

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