We have produced a number of informative ecological guides – from guides to bat mitigation and licence application, to the identification and ecology of UK reptiles. We hope you will find these guides useful, especially if you are, or are thinking of, navigating the planning process.
Introduction The term “crevice-dweller” is used to describe bat species that often utilise small crevices for roosting. Crevices can include natural features such as stone fissures, holes in trees and under loose bark. When found in buildings, crevices can be … Read More
The discovery of bat droppings is the most common method to prove the presence of a bat roost. British bats are entirely insectivorous and so their droppings only contain the indigestible parts of their insect prey. This content gives their … Read More
Don’t know the different between a gambrel and a gablet, a purlin from a rafter, King post from a Queen post, or a truss from a strut? Neither did I! However, an understanding of architectural terms is essential when interpreting … Read More
Butterflies come in a variety of colours, shapes, sizes and patterns and will all soon be fluttering around your garden in search of flowers rich in nectar. Some species such as the Peacock are very easy to identify, yet, many … Read More
Water Voles at Acer Ecology At Acer Ecology, we undertake a range of ecology and protected species work and regularly carry out Water Vole Surveys. Read on to learn a little about water voles and water vole surveys in our … Read More
Smooth snakes (Coronella austriaca) are rare, secretive, well camouflaged and unlikely to be encountered, existing as they do only in several locations in the south of England. Identification Smooth snakes are smaller than our other native snakes (adders and grass … Read More
Often mistaken for a snake, our most commonly encountered reptile is in fact a lizard, the slow worm (Anguis fragilis). Snakes do not have eye lids, instead their eyes are covered in a transparent scale. Slow worms have eye lids … Read More
The common lizard (Zootoca vivipara) is the most common of the UK’s three native lizards. It is often seen quickly scuttling away from human disturbance in dry, open habitats such as heaths. Identification If you see a lizard in the … Read More
Identification The Grass Snake (Natrix helvetica) is Britain’s longest snake, with large females sometimes reaching up to 1.5m in length! Grass snakes are usually olive green with black bars along the flanks and small black dots on the dorsal side. … Read More
The sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) is one of the UK’s three native lizards. It can be found only on a handful of sites, mainly in the south of England. They are incredibly well camouflaged and difficult to spot. If you … Read More
