Case Studies

Our Principal Ecologist acted as the species project manager and survey lead for the A38 Improvement Scheme, in Derby, which is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Scheme. They was assisted by a fellow Ecologist and together, they carried the preliminary roost assessments, emergence/re-entry surveys, activity transects, automated static detector surveys, hibernation assessments and internal inspections, bat trapping and radio tracking and crossing point surveys. 

With the data collected from these surveys, our Principal Ecologist was able to map and detail the pre-construction constraints for the scheme, prepared the NE bat licence covering tree, structure and building roosts and specify the design of innovative and appropriate mitigation. She also liaised with NE and local bat groups/relevant parties, collaborating on survey findings to inform the scheme design. 

In addition to the bat work, both Ecologists were involved in the scheme wide extended phase 1 habitat survey, badger monitoring, great crested newt presence/absence surveys, reptile habitat assessments, water vole surveys, otter presence/absence surveys, invasive species survey and mapping, technical input into green bridge design, as well as landowner collaboration and community engagement. 

The Principal Ecologist acted as the Named Ecologist for the scheme’s draft bat mitigation licence that was submitted to NE via DAS (NE’s Discretionary Advice Service that can be accessed prior to planning permission being granted) to achieve ‘an agreement in principle’ and provide the client with confidence, that the stakeholders would approve the design, specification, and innovative mitigation design for the species of bats (common and soprano pipistrelles, whiskered bat, brown long-eared bats and noctules) and roost types (transitory, maternity and hibernation) to be directly impacted by the scheme. 

Due to the limited areas for mitigation to be created/installed, both ecologists designed and detailed the creation of innovative bat mitigation such as, creating bat roosting features into standard noise barriers, bat specific bat house designs with automated monitoring system (wildlife cameras enabling for automated monitoring and video feed for educational purposes) and translocating tree limb and trees to retain roosting features for a key roosts and species.  

The Ecologists provided technical input up until the design phase for the scheme, adhering to technical guidance (Collins, 2016), Infra-red and thermal imaging guidance (Fawcett 2019) and infrastructure monitoring survey guidelines, to effectively mitigate the impacts of pre during and post construction activities on bat populations.  

The Head of Ecology at Three Shires acted as the ecology task leader for a Site that has subsequently been taken on by multiple developers and is now referred to as Land at Myton Road and Gallows Hill schemes. 

Development proposals involved the delivery of over 1000 houses, along with the provision of green infrastructure and a spine road. The scheme involved carrying out a Phase 1 habitat survey, and a suite of ecology surveys focusing on legally protected species including badger, great crested newts, bats, reptiles and water voles.  Hedgerow and botanical surveys were also required. Cameras were set up, badger bait was carried out marking survey and provided all ecological input to scheme design proposals, including the removal of part of Tach Brook from culvert, and the design of a more naturalised watercourse. Furthermore, there was a need to relocate a population of GCNs. The lead ecologist was responsible for finding a suitable off-site receptor area (considering several within the close proximity) and carried out chytridiomycosis testing of the existing population, along with all liaison with NE and the relevant landowners. She also prepared the design for the GCN receptor water bodies, and working in tandem with the contractors from Three Shires, supervised the creation of these.  Due to programme constraints and in order to optimise the establishment period of the new water bodies, these were constructed in advance of obtaining the EPS Mitigation Licence. Working alongside Three Shires contractors, Tessa supervised the installation of 5000m of exclusion/drift fencing  and led the translocation of GCN (using pitfall traps for 60 days). She also supervised the contractors during the drainage and destructive search of a large water body, relocating any GCN found to the receptor area.  

Tessa prepared the ecology chapter of the ES, negotiated a biodiversity offsetting payment with the Local Planning Authority (LPA) and secured the GCN and Bat European Protected Species Mitigation Licences. She also supervised the implementation of all mitigation and enhancement measures in respect of the GCN, bats and badgers including, the closure of a main sett, a subsidiary sett and several outliers.  She also designed the two artificial setts (that included a French drain), and a badger tunnel beneath the spine road.  During the closure of the main sett, badgers regained access immediately prior to December, such that after liaison with NE, Tessa was permitted to supervise Three Shires contractors carrying out a live dig.   She also oversaw the lead bat ecologist during the demolition of a building containing a common pipistrelle hibernation bat roost, and the provision of alternative roost boxes and a freestanding bat house. 

Tessa collaborated with developers of adjoining parcels and the County Ecologist, particularly in respect of the delivery of a holistic badger mitigation strategy at a landscape level. Since then, in addition to preparing the Landscape and Ecological Management Plan, Protected Species Contingency Plan and CEMP for the whole site, she has also provided plans for several different parcels of this Site.   The delivery of all green infrastructure has been completed, albeit the building phase will be on-going for a further four years, with the findings of monitoring surveys being reported to the County Council on an annual basis. ationally Significant Infrastructure Scheme. They was assisted by a fellow Ecologist and together, they carried the preliminary roost assessments, emergence/re-entry surveys, activity transects, automated static detector surveys, hibernation assessments and internal inspections, bat trapping and radio tracking and crossing point surveys. 

With the data collected from these surveys, our Principal Ecologist was able to map and detail the pre-construction constraints for the scheme, prepared the NE bat licence covering tree, structure and building roosts and specify the design of innovative and appropriate mitigation. She also liaised with NE and local bat groups/relevant parties, collaborating on survey findings to inform the scheme design. 

In addition to the bat work, both Ecologists were involved in the scheme wide extended phase 1 habitat survey, badger monitoring, great crested newt presence/absence surveys, reptile habitat assessments, water vole surveys, otter presence/absence surveys, invasive species survey and mapping, technical input into green bridge design, as well as landowner collaboration and community engagement. 

The Principal Ecologist acted as the Named Ecologist for the scheme’s draft bat mitigation licence that was submitted to NE via DAS (NE’s Discretionary Advice Service that can be accessed prior to planning permission being granted) to achieve ‘an agreement in principle’ and provide the client with confidence, that the stakeholders would approve the design, specification, and innovative mitigation design for the species of bats (common and soprano pipistrelles, whiskered bat, brown long-eared bats and noctules) and roost types (transitory, maternity and hibernation) to be directly impacted by the scheme. 

Due to the limited areas for mitigation to be created/installed, both ecologists designed and detailed the creation of innovative bat mitigation such as, creating bat roosting features into standard noise barriers, bat specific bat house designs with automated monitoring system (wildlife cameras enabling for automated monitoring and video feed for educational purposes) and translocating tree limb and trees to retain roosting features for a key roosts and species.  

The Ecologists provided technical input up until the design phase for the scheme, adhering to technical guidance (Collins, 2016), Infra-red and thermal imaging guidance (Fawcett 2019) and infrastructure monitoring survey guidelines, to effectively mitigate the impacts of pre during and post construction activities on bat populations.