A number of species in the UK are legally protected under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Natural and Rural Communities Act 2006. Badgers have their own legislation, the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. The presence or likely absence of these protected species, their use of the site and population status needs to be confirmed in advance of a planning application or any site works which may harm or disturb them. This information will be required by the Local Planning Authority when a planning application is validated and cannot be submitted later as a planning condition.

Westcountry Rivers Trust is experienced in a wide range of protected species surveys. Many surveys are constrained by season, and early engagement of an ecologist can often help prevent delays later in the project. Our staff and associates hold licences for surveying a number of protected species and we offer the following surveys:

• Bats
• Dormice
• Breeding birds and Schedule 1 birds including Barn Owl
• Reptiles
• Great Crested Newt
• Invertebrates (freshwater and terrestrial)
• Freshwater (white-clawed) crayfish
• Badger
• Otter
• Water vole
• Natterjack toad

Westcountry Rivers Trust can advise on measures to avoid and minimise potential impacts to protected species and on species-specific habitat enhancements. Where development projects or site works affect European Protected Species, such as bats, dormice and otters, we are able to apply for Natural England licences on your behalf to enable the works to proceed.

Natural England recently introduced the Low Impact Bat Class Licence scheme, whereby a small number of the UK’s foremost bat consultants are now able to issue development licenses for projects deemed to have a low impact on bats. Westcountry Rivers Trust is able to offer this service which significantly speeds up the licensing process.