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Ecological consultancy services
As part of our commitment to promoting
sustainiblity and nature conservation issues we employ an
experienced professional ecologist who is involved from the
outset in most of our survey & development commissions
as well as offering specialist ecological & archaeological
services:
Scoping or baseline survey
Overview of main vegetation types involving an initial
site visit and desk top study to identify which elements are
important and may require surveying in more detail.
Early assessment provides an effective forewarning of ecological
constraints on proposed development, allowing remedial measures
to be planned from the outset.

Surveying for great crested newts at Chasewater
SSSI (Staffs County Council)
Existing conditions survey
Involves detailed field survey and data search to identify
accurately habitats, species and plant communities using standard
methodology
River habitat survey
Two staff members are Accredited River Habitat Surveyors
for the Environment Agency. Computerised databases are used
for efficient processing of survey results which are presented
using computer based graphics and CAD systems.
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Evaluation and Appraisal
Follow up work from the ecological survey may include
an evaluation of the site as a whole and of the relative importance
of habitats and particular species. An objective appraisal
can then be made of the impact any proposed development may
have on the site.

Heathland restoration survey & assessment
It is normally possible to recommend measures to protect
wildlife and to mitigate against damage to habitats.
Habitat Creation
On many sites significant improvements to habitat diversity
can be made at low cost and with minimal environmental impact
eg urban woodland on derelict industrial land, school grounds,
wildlife conservation areas etc.
Landscape schemes can be biased towards habitat creation,
usually resulting in lower establishment and maintenance costs.
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