Caring for Local Species of Wildlife and the Surrounding Habitat

Construction work should always be carried out in a way that protects the existing local environment.

Specialist advice should be sought wherever possible before attempting to move any wildlife.

Below are examples of how sites have considered the local wildlife and surrounding habitat:

• Much care was taken to protect wildlife species such as: newts, water voles, medicinal leeches, badgers, adders and nesting birds. All were monitored weekly by a team of full-time ecologists in liaison with Natural England and the Environment Agency;
• Over 100 different species of fish including brown trout, Atlantic salmon and European eel were identified, protected and translocated;
• A survey was carried out in respect of nesting birds by an external consultant, in order to establish that the site did not lie on a known “flight path” for migrating birds;
• Swift boxes were installed on all new homes built in conjunction with the local wildlife trust – ensuring nesting sites were available for these birds, whose population is declining;
• Controlled vermin like rats, mice and pigeons using non-toxic methods.
• A pre-start environmental survey identified existing tree root protection as a risk and advice was sought from an arboriculturalist.