• Protected species
• Protected species
  • Reptiles
  • Water voles
  • Common dormice
  • Badgers
  • Bats
  • Great crested newt
  • Otters
  • Wintering and breeding birds
  • White clawed crayfish
• Thomson Ecology Site Check
• Habitat Surveys
• Environmental Impact Assessments
• Ecology in masterplanning
• Expert witness at Public Inquiries
• BREEAM/ Code for Sustainable Homes
• Green Roofs
• G.I.S. Services
• Tree Services
• Wildlife habitat restoration and creation

Protected species

Thomson Ecology is highly experienced in protected species surveys and ecological mitigation. We employ a large number of ecologists, each a specialist in their own field.

The wildlife legislation

In the UK a number of species of animal and plant are legally protected. Some species are covered by both European and UK legislation, whilst others are covered by UK legislation only.

European protected species are covered by the Habitats Regulations 1994, which, since their initial publication have been amended on several occasions, most significantly in 2007 and 2009.

For most other protected species, the most important legislation is the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as amended.

Protected species licences

Protected species licences are issued by government agencies to permit activities that would otherwise be illegal. protected species licences may also be issued to allow disturbance to species or damage to their habitats, for example. However, the licences are not generally issued to allow the killing or injury of species that are of conservation concern.

Protected species licences may be required for ecological survey work involving protected species and development work that will affect protected species.

Licences for survey work

Under the legislation, it may be an offence to cause disturbance or to capture a particular species. This presents a problem for those wishing to undertake an ecological survey that may involve direct contact with, or trapping of, a protected species. To overcome this problem it is possible to obtain a licence from Natural England (Scottish Natural Heritage in Scotland, Countryside Council for Wales in Wales)  which will allow the protected species to be disturbed or legally caught.

Applicants for survey licences must show a suitable level of knowledge of the subject species and experience in the relevant protected species survey techniques.

Licences for development

For some protected species, including all European protected species and badgers, it is possible to apply for a licence allowing the development activities to go ahead whilst remaining within the law. A consultant ecologist will give advice on when a protected species licence application should be made, based on the specialist knowledge of the species and any survey information already gathered.

For more information, please refer to the Thomson's wildlife on site handbook.

Alternatively, please give us a call on 01483 466000 or let us call you back: