Habitat Creation & Management
The creation of compensatory wildlife habitat is frequently a requirement of planning consent for new development. Normally such habitat is required to support particular species and design must be based on a thorough understanding of their requirements. From all standpoints, it is essential that aftercare is practicable and scheme design must take this into account. Increasingly, species monitoring is required with remedial action if required. Examples of projects include:-
- Planning and supervision of long-term management to create over 80 ha of heathland and acid grassland on restored mineral workings in Norfolk. The restoration scheme won the Norfolk Society Award in 2003.
- Design of a major wetland, including 12 ha of reedbed with full hydrological control, 18 ha of open water and 19 ha of grassland, to achieve UK and county Biodiversity Action Plan goals, as the core of a £6 million Millennium project in Bedfordshire.
- Design of a wetland restoration scheme constructed on reclaimed land in Belfast Harbour, to achieve significant wildlife value consistent with avoiding the development of bird-strike risk to Belfast City airport.
- Design and supervision of successful creation of new habitat for breeding avocets to compensate for habitat losses resulting from dredging disposal on land in the North Kent Marshes.
- Design and implementation of the translocation of the scarce plant divided sedge Carex divisa from a location affected by road improvement works to a new receptor site. The work was underpinned by detailed studies of the species soil and hydrological requirements as demonstrated by the donor site.
- Production of management plans for wetland, heathland and woodland Nature Reserves including a number of Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
- Production of Site Management Statements for the River Lambourn cSAC and negotiation with landowners.
- Production of a costed long-term management plan for restoration of a 20 ha heathland, wetland and woodland site in Hampshire holding an exceptional assemblage of protected and scarce plants and fauna including smooth snake and Schedule 1 breeding birds.
Part of a 80ha acid grassland, heathland and wetland complex managed on restored mineral workings in Norfolk.