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Amphibians, such as Great Crested Newts, when finding a road, tend to naturally follow the line of the kerb, and when they reach a road gully grating, they normally fall through into the gully below, where they generally die of starvation. As this development has a large population of Great Crested Newts the company spoke to their ecologist to see…
This contractor has implemented a bat-friendly breather membrane for the roof. Bats are a protected species in the UK and play an important role in the ecosystem. Until now when bats are found, only Bitumen 1F felt has been used. This has come at considerable cost to the thermal performance of the roof because 1F felt requires extra rafter space…
This contractor has taken the approach to install green flood lights as an alternative to traditional white lights on site. This has the benefit of being much more wildlife friendly by reducing the impact on the night vision of animals. Green lights have a lower ambience which also reduces the impact on neighbours as well as bringing a reduction in…
The project team wanted to be able to respond to any damage to tree roots during the project without delaying the work through needing to request their Arboricultural clerk of works attend site. The team prepared a first aid kit with all the equipment and detailed instructions on how to deal with damage to tree roots in line with their…
This contractor has implemented a passive eel pass that will ensure a consistent flow rate without any manual or electrical operations. The operation will be monitored, with the aim of using the data collected for similar projects. The eel pass exit comprises a floating articulating swivel pipe which can adapt to seasonal variations in water level. The novel adaptability is…
The project team discovered a hive of local bees had built their home in the site’s steelwork. Understanding the importance of bees to the environment and their role as vital pollinators, the team quickly contacted the local Beekeepers Association for assistance. Recent research shows that bees are in serious decline in the UK and globally. In the UK, we have…
Kittiwake are small gulls with declining populations in the UK. The species is listed as vulnerable, at risk of extinction and on the UK’s Red List for Birds of Conservation Concern. To help support the local colonies and encourage new chicks to the population, this contractor has used 3D printed decoy Kittiwakes to attract new Kittiwakes into the artificial nesting…
45 Millharbour is one of the few sites in the UK that contains Jersey Cudweed – a protected species of wild plant which was found growing naturally on the site prior to the project commencing. In order to protect this species, the project team set up an action plan with an ecologist from Greengage to ensure that the plant was…
During this contractors Biodiversity Week, they held a 24-Hour BioBlitz at Mullaghglass. Historically, Mullaghglass was a basalt quarry and landfill which was closed – where they now are undertaking an ongoing restoration project. The site borders the Slievenacloy Nature Reserve. Over 30 Biologists attended for 24 hours to record as many species as possible on the site, and over 650…
Mullaghglass, a former quarry and landfill site is in its restoration project phases – it is a member of the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Constant Effort Site Scheme. This is the first national standardised ringing programme within the (BTO) ringing scheme. There are presently only four sites in N. Ireland and two in ROI (out of all industries). This…
During construction of the A465 Section 2 permanent lighting columns had to be removed for work to proceed. This raised concerns that Lesser Horseshoe bats would then fly directly across the carriageway, resulting in a number of fatalities as they are used to the lights being in position. To prevent this a series of temporary lighting columns which are very…
Disruptions caused by construction work should be minimised as much as possible. Before work commences, the impact on community and environment should be identified and measures implemented to reduce disturbances. Simple and cost effective solutions should be sought to mitigate the loss of natural habitats. Below is an example of how a site considered the local bat population: Temporary ‘Bat Crossings’ were…
Ecological survey and mitigation works are seasonal. Failure to conduct surveys at the right time of year can result in delays to projects of over a year, as accurate survey information collected to standards set by the regulatory authorities is often required to obtain licences to disturb protected species. Early engagement is essential when it comes to planning ecology into project…
Fit-out projects are rarely able to declare that they are making an improvement to the landscape. To counteract this, the contractor is increasing the planting area from the original plan, with native species of plants phased in that will bloom over a longer period. Native shrub and hedge species, trees and grass/wildflower mixes are better for biodiversity and are reflected…
This contractor created a method to measure the effectiveness of living walls for biodiversity. This is important because insect rates are falling at an alarming rate with several studies reporting losses of 40%, the situation is critical and insects are vital for the functioning of our ecosystems. There are projects that will have introduced green walls and assumed that they…