NEWS AND POINTS OF INTEREST

June 2008
New website developed

Water Voles received increased protection

It will now be against the law to intentionally kill a water vole or to intentionally, or recklessly, damage or disturb the places they use for shelter or protection, meaning that their future is a safer one.

Threatened by habitat loss and predation by American mink, the water vole is the UK's fastest declining native mammal. In 1990 there were seven million water voles in the UK. By 1998 numbers had crashed to less than a million and they have since continued to fall. Previous legal protection for water voles, introduced in 1998, extended only to the animal's habitat, not to the animal itself. This has proved a source of confusion, resulting in the loss of important water vole colonies.

The full protection will come into force on 6 April 2008 under section 9(1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

Special points of interest

• Carry out any surveys required as early in the planning process• Winter Season is badger surveys                             • March to June is Newt survey season • Bat activity Survey season May to September/October.
• Bat hibernation is November to March/April. and don't forget Phase 1 Habitat Surveys from can be all year round

Where is Absolute Ecology

So where is Absolute Ecology? We are on the edge of the Peak District AONB, central to the UK and only a short drive to the A50, M6 and M1 motorways. This makes for easy access throughout the UK.

Wildlife Legislation

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) - is the principal piece of legislation protecting wildlife in Great Britain and has been amended following revisions (Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment Act)1985, Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000).  It aims to protect habitats, by designating them as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) as well as individual species.  All wild birds are given some protection during the breeding season, whilst protection to other species varies according to their conservation status.

The Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) Regulations 1994 - also known as the Habitats Regulations these implement the EU Habitats Directive in Great Britain.  The Regulations require the Secretary of State to draw up a list of sites of European Community Importance that are then designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). The regulations also give protection to European Protected Species, the most likely of which to be encountered in Cheshire are great crested newts and bats.

The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 - amends the Wildlife and Countryside Act and strengthens protection given to SSSIs and other important wildlife sites.  Importantly, under the Act it has became a criminal offence to "recklessly disturb" Schedule 1 nesting birds and species protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (eg bats).

The Protection of Badgers Act 1992 - protection is provided to badgers and their setts.

The Hedgerow Regulations 1997 - these regulations introduced new arrangements for local planning authorities to protect important hedgerows in the countryside, by controlling their removal through a system of notification.