Reptiles

Part of a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal Cambridge Ecology will assess the suitability of your site to Lizardsupport Reptiles. Subsequent detailed surveys may then be required to the inform appropriate levels of mitigation or compensation for a development licence applications. These Reptile surveys include specialised methods such as:

  • Phase 1 Presence/Absence Survey
  • Phase 2 Population Size Survey

Cambridge Ecology has experienced ecologists able to undertake Reptile surveys.

See survey timetable for the optimal survey period.

Legislation and protection

All native British reptiles are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). It is illegal to intentionally kill or injure any native British reptile species.

This legislation makes it illegal to intentionally kill or injure a common reptile. As a Adderresult, a method statement must be produced describing the mitigation measures implemented to protect reptiles from injury or death. Reptiles must be removed from areas of development and relocated onto suitable release sites before any site works can commence.

In addition Sand Lizard and Smooth Snake are Protected Species and are fully protected under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (as amended). It is an offence to:

  • deliberately or recklessly disturb, capture or kill these animals
  • deliberately or recklessly take or destroy eggs of these animals
  • damage or destroy a breeding site or resting place of such a wild animal
  • keep, transport, sell or exchange, or offer for sale or exchange, any live or dead animal, or any part of, or anything derived from such a wild animal.

Sentences include six months imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £5000 (per animal).

All British reptiles are UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority species and are Section 41 ‘species of priority importance’ under the terms of the NERC Act 2006.

For more information on how we can help you, please get in touch or call 01954 231239.