Badger monitoring March 2020-March 2021
Ecological monitoring in respect of badgers and barn owls has been carried out for LM as part of the
Badger monitoring has been carried out in respect of 56 badger method statement areas across 78 kilometres of the LM Enabling Works North Area. This involved the supervision of vegetation clearance in the vicinity of Badger setts, along with the supervision of the installation of approximately 246 badger gates and 1,350 m2 of mesh.
The team supervised and created multi chambered artificial setts ranging in size, some of which were designed to incorporate french drains. Monitoring to determine the use of the setts has been on-going and where occupation has not been proven, a programme of baiting has been implemented to encourage badgers to investigate the new setts. Where badger sett closures were required, the team set up trail cameras and carried out visual inspections of the setts every 3 days during the 28 day monitoring and exclusion process for each sett. We also supervised and monitored the destruction of the setts themselves.
Fortnightly post monitoring work has been carried out in all areas over the winter, to ensure that the destroyed setts have not been re-excavated and that no new setts have been created within the working area.
Monitoring works were carried out our Senior Ecologist, both Principal Ecologists and Assistant Ecologist, and other members of our in-house ecology team.
A comprehensive set of Precautionary Works Method Statements/RAMS and Biosecurity Management Plans were also produced, with all the information uploaded to the GIS/Fieldview systems, enabling the Client to monitor progress on a daily basis. All works were collated in a formal Licence Return to Natural England, confirming that the works had been completed in accordance with the stipulations detailed with the Method Statement that had been agreed with Natural England.
In partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Trust, members of the Three Shires Ecology Team carried out barn owl monitoring of 160 roost sites within the HS2 working area. This involved the team using telescopic endoscopes and where necessary, tree climbers and MEWP’s, to carry out the inspections.
Furthermore, our Natural England licensed Barn Owl surveyors supervised the closure 140 roosts. This involved the capping of features whilst also taking due regard of the potential for trees and structures to contain bats. A total of 64 alternative sites were selected by our surveyors, and Barn Owl boxes were installed in 60 trees.
Post work weekly monitoring was on-going to monitor the uptake of the new roost sites until the end of March 2021. All records are being collated for submission to Natural England. This work started in mid-December 2020 and was completed by 12th March 2021.
Ecological Surveying
A38 Improvement Scheme – Client: BAM Nuttall Bats, GCN, Reptiles, Badgers, Water voles
Our Principal Ecologist acted as the species project manager and survey lead for the A38 Improvement Scheme, in Derby, which is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Scheme. They was assisted by a fellow Ecologist and together, they carried the preliminary roost assessments, emergence/re-entry surveys, activity transects, automated static detector surveys, hibernation assessments and internal inspections, bat trapping and radio tracking and crossing point surveys.
With the data collected from these surveys, our Principal Ecologist was able to map and detail the pre-construction constraints for the scheme, prepared the NE bat licence covering tree, structure and building roosts and specify the design of innovative and appropriate mitigation. She also liaised with NE and local bat groups/relevant parties, collaborating on survey findings to inform the scheme design.
In addition to the bat work, both Ecologists were involved in the scheme wide extended phase 1 habitat survey, badger monitoring, great crested newt presence/absence surveys, reptile habitat assessments, water vole surveys, otter presence/absence surveys, invasive species survey and mapping, technical input into green bridge design, as well as landowner collaboration and community engagement.
The Principal Ecologist acted as the Named Ecologist for the scheme’s draft bat mitigation licence that was submitted to NE via DAS (NE’s Discretionary Advice Service that can be accessed prior to planning permission being granted) to achieve ‘an agreement in principle’ and provide the client with confidence, that the stakeholders would approve the design, specification, and innovative mitigation design for the species of bats (common and soprano pipistrelles, whiskered bat, brown long-eared bats and noctules) and roost types (transitory, maternity and hibernation) to be directly impacted by the scheme.
Due to the limited areas for mitigation to be created/installed, both ecologists designed and detailed the creation of innovative bat mitigation such as, creating bat roosting features into standard noise barriers, bat specific bat house designs with automated monitoring system (wildlife cameras enabling for automated monitoring and video feed for educational purposes) and translocating tree limb and trees to retain roosting features for a key roosts and species.
The Ecologists provided technical input up until the design phase for the scheme, adhering to technical guidance (Collins, 2016), Infra-red and thermal imaging guidance (Fawcett 2019) and infrastructure monitoring survey guidelines, to effectively mitigate the impacts of pre during and post construction activities on bat populations.
Protected Species Mitigation
Europa Way and Gallows Hill – Residential development
Three Shires Ltd Head of Ecology had been the ecology task leader for a Site that has subsequently been taken on by multiple developers and is now referred to as Land at Myton Road and Gallows Hill schemes. Development proposals involved the delivery of over 1000 houses, along with the provision of green infrastructure and a spine road. The scheme involved carrying out a Phase 1 habitat survey, and a suite of ecology surveys focusing on legally protected species including badger, great crested newts, bats, reptiles and water voles. Hedgerow and botanical surveys, were also required. Tessa set up trail cameras, badger bait marking survey and provided all ecological input to scheme design proposals, including the removal of part of Tach Brook from culvert, and the design of a more naturalised watercourse. Furthermore, there was a need to relocate a population of GCNs. Tessa was responsible for finding a suitable off-site receptor area (considering several within the close proximity) and carried out chytridiomycosis testing of the existing population, along with all liaison with NE and the relevant landowners. She also prepared the design for the GCN receptor water bodies, and working in tandem with the contractors from Three Shires, supervised the creation of these. Due to programme constraints and in order to optimise the establishment period of the new water bodies, these were constructed in advance of obtaining the EPS Mitigation Licence. Working alongside Three Shries contractors, our head of ecology supervised the installation of 5000m of exclusion/drift fencing and led the translocation of GCN (using pitfall traps for 60 days), she also supervised the drainage and destructive search of a large water body.
The Head of Ecology prepared the ecology chapter of the ES, negotiated a biodiversity offsetting payment with the LPA and secured the GCN and Bat EPS Mitigation Licences. She also supervised the implementation of all mitigation and enhancement measures in respect of the GCN, bats and badgers including, the closure of a main sett, a subsidiary sett and several outliers. She also designed the two artificial setts (that included a French drain), and a badger tunnel beneath the spine road. During the closure of the main sett, badgers regained access immediately prior to December, such that after liaison with NE, Tessa was permitted to supervise Three Shires contractors carrying out a live dig. She was also oversaw the lead bat ecologist during the demolition of a building containing a common pipistrelle hibernation bat roost, and the provision of alternative roost boxes and a freestanding bat house.
Tessa collaborated with developers of adjoining parcels and the County Ecologist, particularly in respect of the delivery of a holistic badger mitigation strategy at a landscape level. Since then, in addition to preparing the Landscape and Ecological Management Plan, Protected Species Contingency Plan and CEMP for the whole site, she has also provided plans for several different parcels of this Site The delivery of all green infrastructure has been completed, albeit the building phase will be on-going for a further four years, with the findings of monitoring surveys being reported to the County Council on an annual basis.
Knutsford Dual Carriageway
A556 Bowden - Costain 2015
Three Shires Ltd undertook a wide range of Ecology Works within the scope. We cleared the unused shrubbery and installed 15,000 metres of Three Shires bespoke Herpetosure temporary Newt fencing, created and constructed bespoke badger setts, lined 5 large attenuation ponds and installed 21,277m of NHSS post and rail fencing.
In addition Three Shires Ltd installed badger netting, an environmental reflective sound barrier and installed bat hop overs.
2016 – 2019 M6 Jct 16-19 Smart Motorway Upgrade
Carillion Kier – Ecology Works/Post and Rail Including Edge Protection
Three Shires Ltd were appointed to deliver the ecological works and associated vegetation clearance.
We were then appointed to take over the fencing contractor and maintenance works due to the collapse of Carillion Infrastructure.
WP070 - LM – Wood Land Fencing
Three Shires undertook a wide range of veg clearance to include the following:
· 35,000 metres of hedgerow
· Installed 19,000 metres of new fencing
· Writing of over 25 PWMS
· Carried Out around 600 BAT Surveys (BT3 & BT3)
· ECoW supervision around 2900 days
Throughout the project Three Shires Ltd have worked with other contractors and third parties to deliver the works. A key challenge TSL found was keeping on top of all the information from various parties to make sure the work was not disrupted and kept to programme. This was managed by holding regular meetings with all interfaces to identify the blockers and establish fixes. The weekly meetings continued for the duration of project, which included updating any issues that could not be fixed through these meeting into Early Warnings if needed and manage them through to the contract’s end.
WP042 - LM – HS2
Wood Land Translocation and Habitat Creation on 5 Sites
- Walkovers
- Soil Scientist monitoring of 3 woodland translocation’s
- PWMS writing
- Invasive weeds survey and strategy
- BAT surveys (BT3 & BT2)
ECoW supervision have worked with other contractors and third parties to deliver the works. A key challenge Three Shires Ltd found was keeping on top of all the information from various parties to make sure the work was not disrupted and kept to programme. This was managed by holding regular meetings with all interfaces to identify the blockers and establish fixes. The weekly meetings continued for the duration of project, which included updating any issues that could not be fixed through these meeting into Early Warnings if needed and manage them through to the contract’s end.
Three Shires Overview
Three Shires Ltd are specialist contractors to the Rail, Utilities, Construction and Civil Infrastructure sectors.
For over 25 years Three Shires Ltd has developed long standing relationships with the UK’s leading Construction Contractors, House Builders, Civil Engineers, Developers, Environmental and Ecological Consultants.
Company Information
Contact Information
Contact Information
Three Shires Ltd
Piper Hole Farm
Eastwell Road, Scalford
Leicestershire, LE14 4SS
Phone: 01664 444 604
Fax: 01664 444 605