Habitat Surveys
Why are surveys important?
Ecological and site surveys are undertaken for a number of reasons and are used to provide the baseline information to identify the future management requirements.
Our services include:
Phase 1 Habitat Survey
This survey identifies the habitats that are contained within or make up a site, and the key plant species for each of those habitat types. It will also provide target notes on important aspects of the site, for example, the presence of rare plants or animals, or a special habitat feature such as an ancient hedgerow. A Phase 1 survey can be carried out at any time of year but it is best done in spring or summer, when the vegetation types that characterise a certain habitat are more readily identifiable. We can also undertake extended Phase 1 surveys that provide more information, particularly on vegetation of a site, than a Phase 1 survey.
Phase 2 Habitat Survey
This survey is more detailed and is based on the National Vegetation Classification (NVC). Sites are initially assessed for the number and type of homogeneous vegetation stands within them. Within each stand, several randomly-placed quadrats are sampled in order to build up a picture of species composition and frequency throughout that stand. The NVC type of each stand is then determined by comparison with the floristic tables given by British Plant Communities
They can be used to:
- Determine the presence of legally protected species
- Support planning applications
- Monitor habitat types
- Identify and control invasive species
- Provide an environmental audit
- Monitor individual species
At BlueSky Environmental Solutions we offer a comprehensive range of site investigations, please contact us to discuss your requirements.