We are an ecological consultancy specialising in great crested newt and reptile surveys.
Our licensed ecologists can undertake great crested newt and reptile surveys throughout Berkeley and the surrounding areas including Stroud, Wotton-under-Edge, Dursley and Thornbury. We have specialists in reptiles and newt species who are experienced in the survey, mitigation design and on-site supervision.
Reptiles Surveys
Reptile surveys combine two techniques: a visual search and the use of artificial refugia. Surveys are seasonally constrained to between April and September when animals are active and unlikely to be hibernating.
Reptile mitigation is also seasonally constrained to the period from April to September, and generally involves the erection of reptile-proof fencing and the use of artificial refugia. Substantial effort is required to capture and transfer animals off-site to pre-prepared receptor sites. Protected Species Licences are required if development proposals will affect the two scarce species smooth snake and sand lizard, although these are only rarely found on development sites.
Great Crested Newt Surveys
For Great Crested Newt Surveys, we use a combination of survey techniques, including bottle trapping, torching, egg searches, netting and refugia searches. It’s vital to identify the presence of newts on site at an early stage in the planning process. Failure to do this can lead to costly and timely delays further down the line in the planning process. We work alongside our clients to ensure pragmatic solutions to their ecological issues while maintaining the ecological integrity of the site.
Surveys for great crested newt are also seasonally constrained to the period mid-March to mid-June when great crested newts are present in their breeding ponds. Outside of this season terrestrial surveys using drift fencing and pitfall traps can be undertaken to determine their presence in terrestrial habitats. It is, therefore, crucial to identify the presence of GCN at an early stage in the planning process, in order to avoid timely and costly delays
Great crested newts are fully protected under the UK and European law and are frequently encountered on development sites. It is an offence to kill, capture, or disturb them, or to damage or destroy their ponds. This protection extends to the habitats which support great crested newt and it is generally assumed that the species might be present in terrestrial habitats up to 500m of a breeding pond, depending on habitat quality, connectivity and population size.
For more information about great crested newt surveys, or any of our other ecological services, please call us on 02920 650 331, or email us at enquiries@acerecology.co.uk.
Reptile Survey Information Reptile Guide
Further information about great crested newts can be found in our articles Get The “Newt” Know How On Great Crested Newt Surveys, Great Crested Newts – How We Can Help You and A Year in the Life of a Great Crested Newt.
