Year Planner

Year Planner

Traditionally, environmental issues are not considered at an early stage in project planning. The Year Planners below show the appropriate times of year to carry out general or more specific species surveys and mitigation.

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Ecology Surveys

Task

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

June

July

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Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

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1. Ecology Surveys can be carried out at any time of year.

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Preliminary Ecological Appraisals / Extended Phase 1 Habitat Surveys

Task

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

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1. Phase 1 Habitat Surveys can be carried out at any time of year although the optimum time for the surveys is between April and September when all plant species are growing and present on sites.
2. Phase 1 Habitat Surveys can be carried out between October and March although this is the sub optimal time for the surveys and some plant species will not be present.

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Badgers

Task

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

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1. Badger Surveys. Best carried out during November to April when the vegetation is low and field signs are easier to identify.
2. Badger Surveys. Surveys can continue but become less reliable as the vegetation becomes more dense.
3. Artificial Badger Sett Construction. These should be constructed at least six months before a sett exclusion. Winter is the time to complete artificial setts to give the badgers time to familiarise themselves before the licensing season.
4. Badger Territorial Bait Marking Surveys. Territorial marking is at its peak between February and April and the vegetation is low enough to identify latrines. This is the only time of year when bait marking is effective.
5. Badger Licensing Season. Between 1st July and 30th November. Nature Conservancy Councils will normally only issue disturbance and exclusion licences outside this time period in cases of proven urgency.

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Water Voles

Task

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

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1. Water Vole Surveys. Need to be carried out during the summer breeding season. Best carried out between March and June before the vegetation grows too high.
2. Water Vole Surveys. Can continue for the rest of the breeding season but field signs become harder to identify as the vegetation becomes more dense.
3. Water Vole Exclusions. Excluding and trapping are recommended during February and March, before the breeding season or October and November, after the end of the breeding season.

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Otters

Task

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

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1. Otter Surveys. Otter surveys can be carried out throughout the year although surveys are easier to carry out during periods of low vegetation.
2. Otter Mitigation. Otter mitigation can be carried out throughout the year but may be restricted if evidence of breeding is identified.

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Great Crested Newts

Task

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

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1. GCN Breeding Pond Surveys are the only way to effectively establish presence or absence and to quantify populations. These can only be carried out between March and June.
2. Terrestrial Searches are least effective but can be carried out during early spring and during the autumn, depending upon weather conditions. Surveys should be carried out when night temperatures are above five degrees centigrade and when the ground is moist.

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Bats

Task

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

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1. Initial Daytime Bat Surveys to assess a buildings potential for roosting bats and to look for existing bat field signs can be carried out at any time of year.
2. Flight Surveys that involve identification of bats in flight by observation or echolocation can be carried out between March and October although the optimum time for the surveys is April to September. Surveys of this type can be carried out without a licence as they are non intrusive.
3. Dusk Emergence and Dawn Swarming Surveys can be carried out between May and October although the optimum time for the surveys is between May and September.
4. Hibernation Roost Surveys can only be carried out between November and March when the bats are hibernating. These surveys are very difficult to carry out as bats hibernate deep in cracks and crevices and are therefore difficult to identify.

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Crayfish

Task

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

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1. Crayfish Surveys. Surveys are best carried out between July and October although it is possible to carry out surveys during April.
2. Crayfish Releasing Young. Surveys should not be carried out during May and June because crayfish are releasing their young.
3. Reduced Crayfish Activity. Surveys should not be carried out during the winter months due to reduced levels of activity.

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Nesting Birds

Task

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

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1. Nesting Bird Season. No vegetation clearance work should be carried out during the nesting bird season unless immediately preceded by a thorough nesting bird survey.
2. Vegetation Clearance Work. Best carried out at these times of year when birds are not nesting although work must stop if nests are found.

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Reptiles

Task

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

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Oct

Nov

Dec

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1. Reptile Surveys can only be carried out between March and October when reptiles are active. During the winter months reptiles are in hibernation therefore it is not suitable to carry out surveys.
2. Reptile Capture and Release Programmes can only be carried out between March and October when reptiles are active.
3. Scrub Clearance work can be carried out throughout the year.

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Hazel Dormice

Task

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

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1. Habitat Assessments for Hazel Dormice can be carried out at any time of year but may need to be supported by further more detailed surveys.
2. Nut Searches can be carried out from November to February although the optimal time for the search is during November and December when the nuts are fresh.
3. Nest Tube or Box Surveys are the only way to accurately survey for the presence or absence of hazel dormice or to establish a population size. The surveys can be carried out throughout the active season from March to October.
4. Hibernation During the winter months from November to February Hazel Dormice hibernate. The exact time may be dependent on weather conditions.

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Red Squirrels

Task

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

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1. General Surveys for red squirrels can be conducted at any time of year although the optimum period of spring and summer.

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