Cambridge Ecology - Wicken Fen
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info@cambridgeecology.com Wicken Fen
Fen are a unique and once typical habitat of Cambridgeshire. Wicken Fen is one of Britain’s oldest nature reserve the first areas being acquired by the National Trust in May 1899. The nature of the Fen has been shaped by topography, hydrology, and in particular, by centuries of use by man. The wetland has played an important role in the social and economic life of the area. As a result 29 species of mammal, over 200 species of birds, 1000 species of moth and butterfly, 1000 species of beetle, approaching 2000 species of fly and 25 species of dragonfly have been recorded from the Fen. The Fen therefore is a refuge for a very large number of UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority species. As a consequence the Fen is a National Nature Reserve, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Area of Conservation and a Ramsar site.

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Green Woodpecker
Green Woodpecker - Picus viridis
The green woodpecker is the largest of the three woodpeckers that breed in Britain and found throughout the UK in open deciduous woodland, parks, orchards and farmland. On the UK's Birds of Conservation Concern this species list amber listed.

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BADGERS

Legislation and Policy

Badgers and their setts are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. This makes it a criminal offence to:
• wilfully kill, injure, take, possess, or cruelly ill-treat a Badger, or to attempt to,
• to interfere with a sett by damaging or destroying it,
• to obstruct access to, or any entrance of, a Badger sett;
• to disturb a Badger when it is occupying a sett.

UK planning policy under the terms of Planning Policy Statement 9 (PPS 9) sets out the Government’s national policies on different aspects of planning in England that regional planning bodies and local planning authorities (LPAs) are expected to consider. Key components of this policy include:
• Planning decisions should be based on up-to-date information (e.g. surveys) about the environmental characteristics of their areas;
• Planning decisions should aim to maintain, enhance, restore or add to biodiversity interests. In taking decisions LPAs should ensure that appropriate emphasis is attached to designated sites, protected species, and to biodiversity interests within the wider environment;
• The aim of planning decisions should be to prevent harm to biodiversity interests.
• It also emphasis’s that development proposals provide many opportunities for building-in beneficial biodiversity features as part of good design and that when considering proposals, LPAs should maximise such opportunities in and around developments.

PPS 9 requires that LPA’s take steps to promote the conservation of habitats and species of ‘principal importance’ (i.e. BAP habitats and species) through their planning function.
Therefore developments on sites where Badgers or their setts may be present or nearby need to be mindful of this legislation and policy.
Cambridge Ecology has extensive experience in surveying for Badgers using specific survey techniques to assess population sizes, status of setts and the extent of foraging areas. The data collected is used to devise appropriate mitigation strategies.

Specialist Expertise

Cambridge Ecology has a wide range of skills required in this specialist area. These include the use of various standard and specialised Badger surveys methods such as:

• Phase 1 site investigations - involves a detailed investigation of the site to identify evidence of Badger residence, foraging or territorial activity. Areas of suitable habitat are searched for evidence of foraging activity and commuting routes. Particular emphasis is placed on locating Badger setts and signs of territorial activity. Surveys can be carried out at any time of the year though the optimum period is between October and April.
• Bait marking survey- uses coloured markers fed to Badgers, which are then expelled during territorial scent marking activities. This would help determine the number and extent of Badger territories in the study area. The optimum period for this work is February to April.
• Nocturnal Badger surveys – using night vision equipment to determine the presence of Badgers and the status of potential Badger setts. Surveys can be carried out at any time of the year.

Habitat Creation and Mitigation

• Development of Badger mitigation strategies to offset the impact of development to ensure our clients remains complaint with the relevant legislation.
• Retention and enhancement of setts and foraging habitats within a site.
• Installation of fencing to discourage animals from crossing roads and installing tunnels for animals to use to safely pass from one area to another while avoiding crossing roads.
• Translocation of setts.

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