Independent ecological consultants with over 20 years of field experience — delivering protected species surveys, licensing, and pragmatic solutions for development projects across the UK.
Absolute Ecology is an independent ecological consultancy based in Staffordshire, ideally located to serve clients throughout England and Wales. We provide a complete ecological service — from initial scoping through to survey, reporting, mitigation design, and licensing.
With over two decades of field experience, we work with architects, planning consultants, land developers, landscape architects, and private individuals to deliver ecological solutions that are scientifically rigorous and commercially pragmatic.
Preliminary roost assessments, emergence/re-entry surveys, activity surveys and bat reports compliant with BCT Good Practice Guidelines 4th Edition 2023.
Learn more →HSI assessments, presence/absence surveys, eDNA surveys, population assessment, mitigation and EPS licence applications.
Learn more →Habitat assessments, presence/absence surveys, population assessment, translocation and EPS licensing for all six UK native reptile species.
Learn more →Extended Phase 1 habitat surveys, desk study and PEA reports — the essential baseline for planning applications.
Learn more →Statutory BNG assessments using Biodiversity Metric 4.0, BNG strategies, habitat management plans and 30-year monitoring.
Learn more →Phase 1 bird surveys, breeding bird surveys, wintering bird surveys, point counts and transects to inform ecological impact assessment and planning applications.
Learn more →Badger sett surveys, activity surveys, impact assessments, mitigation strategies and licence applications to Natural England for development affecting badgers.
Learn more →BS5837 tree surveys for planning, arboricultural impact assessments, tree protection plans and home buyer tree reports.
Enquire →We understand ecology often sits on the critical path of a development programme. That's why we combine scientific rigour with commercial awareness — giving you advice that is ecologically sound and deliverable on the ground.
We work as principal consultant or sub-contractor to environmental consultancies throughout the UK, adapting to your workflow and timescales.
Solutions that work in the real world, not just on paper.
Responsive service with competitive timescales.
Staffordshire-based, working throughout England and Wales.
Fair, transparent pricing with no hidden charges.
"A dedicated, motivated team committed to delivering high quality ecological services throughout the UK."
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All 18 UK bat species and their roosts are fully protected under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 and Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Our surveys follow BCT Good Practice Guidelines 4th Edition 2023.
All UK bat species are European Protected Species (EPS). Any development that could affect roosting bats, their access routes, or key foraging and commuting habitat requires an assessment of potential impacts. Planning authorities typically require bat surveys before granting consent for demolition, conversion, roof works, tree felling, and many types of new development.
Without adequate survey data a planning application may be refused, delayed, or granted subject to conditions that are costly to discharge. Early survey commissioning is always the most cost-effective approach — bat surveys are highly seasonal and cannot simply be commissioned and completed in days.
A Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA) is the essential first step for any structure or site that could support roosting bats. It involves a detailed inspection of the building or trees and surrounding habitat to assess roost potential. The PRA determines whether further survey work is required and, if so, which methods and how many visits are needed. It is the gateway survey for all bat survey work.
Where a roost is confirmed or suspected, dusk emergence and pre-dawn re-entry surveys are required. Conducted by trained surveyors equipped with full-spectrum bat detectors, these surveys confirm species, roost size, and roost location. The BCT Guidelines specify minimum survey numbers based on season and roost potential — typically 2–3 visits across the optimal season (May–September).
Activity surveys assess bat use of the wider site — foraging habitat, flight lines, and commuting routes. This information underpins ecological impact assessment and mitigation design. We carry out walked transect surveys and multi-night static detector deployments, with analysis of recordings using Kaleidoscope Pro and expert manual review.
All survey work is written up in a detailed bat survey report compliant with BCT GPG 4th Edition. Where development impacts on roosts are unavoidable, we prepare European Protected Species (EPS) mitigation licence applications to Natural England, including species-specific mitigation designs, method statements, and post-construction monitoring programmes.
Contact us to discuss your project. We'll advise what surveys are needed and when, and provide a competitive quote.
Green = optimal · Amber = limited · Grey = hibernation
The great crested newt is a European Protected Species and one of the most legally significant species encountered in the UK planning system. Surveys must be carried out within a strict seasonal window by licensed surveyors.
Great crested newts (GCN) are fully protected under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Their presence can significantly influence the design, timing and cost of a development project if not identified and addressed at an early stage.
Any development within or adjacent to suitable pond-bearing habitat — typically ponds within 500m of the development footprint — should be assessed for GCN potential. Where surveys confirm presence, a European Protected Species (EPS) mitigation licence from Natural England is required before works can commence.
The first step is an HSI assessment of all ponds within the likely survey zone (typically 500m). The HSI scores each pond against eight habitat variables to assess its suitability for GCN. Ponds with a score below 0.5 may not require further survey work, making this a cost-effective first filter.
Where ponds have sufficient HSI scores, presence/absence surveys are required between mid-March and mid-June using a minimum of four methods across at least four visits. Our licensed surveyors carry out all required survey methods to a rigorous standard.
Environmental DNA (eDNA) water sampling provides an efficient alternative to traditional methods for presence/absence determination. Water samples are collected from April to the end of June and sent to an accredited UKAS laboratory for GCN DNA analysis. A single visit suffices for the presence/absence result, making eDNA a practical option for sites with numerous ponds.
Where GCN are confirmed, a population size class assessment determines whether the population is Low (<10), Medium (10–100), or High (>100 individuals). This classification directly determines the complexity and cost of the required mitigation, making it an important step for project planning.
In many areas of England, Natural England's District Level Licensing scheme provides a streamlined route to GCN consent for lower-risk projects. A one-off payment buys consent and habitat delivery through the scheme rather than requiring site-specific mitigation. We advise whether DLL applies to your site and assist with the registration process where appropriate.
Where development will affect GCN or their habitat, we prepare full EPS mitigation licence applications including method statements, compensatory habitat design, translocation methodology and monitoring requirements.
GCN surveys are highly seasonal — contact us early to secure a survey slot in the spring window.
Optimal window: mid-March to mid-June
All six common UK reptile species receive legal protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Two species — sand lizard and smooth snake — are European Protected Species, requiring a licence for any works that affect them.
The UK has six native reptile species: adder, grass snake, smooth snake, common lizard, sand lizard and slow worm. All six are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 — it is an offence to intentionally kill or injure any of them. The smooth snake and sand lizard additionally qualify as European Protected Species (EPS) under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, requiring a licence from Natural England before any works can affect them.
Reptile surveys are typically required where development sites contain suitable habitat — rough grassland, south-facing embankments, scrubby vegetation, brownfield land, woodland edges, or heathland. Many local planning authorities now expect reptile surveys to be submitted as part of the planning application.
Before surveys commence, a habitat assessment is carried out to determine the suitability and extent of reptile habitat on site and to focus survey effort appropriately. This is often incorporated within or follows directly from a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal.
The standard survey method deploys artificial refugia (ARs) — typically bituminous roofing felt or corrugated tin sheets — on areas of suitable habitat. Reptiles use these thermally beneficial shelters, making detection far more reliable than visual searching alone. Surveys require a minimum of 7 visits across the active season (March–October), with the optimal window being March–April and September–October when moderate air temperatures encourage basking behaviour.
Where reptiles are confirmed, or where EPS such as sand lizard are possible, a population assessment may be needed to determine numbers and distribution on site. This data informs the mitigation approach and, for EPS, supports the licence application to Natural England.
Where development will affect reptile habitat, we design and implement mitigation programmes. This typically involves habitat manipulation — cutting vegetation, removing refugia — to encourage reptiles to leave the development footprint, followed by translocation to a suitable receptor site. For sand lizard and smooth snake, a Natural England EPS licence is required before works proceed.
Contact us to discuss your site — we'll advise on the appropriate survey approach and timescales.
Optimal: March–April & September–October
A Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) is the essential baseline ecological assessment for the vast majority of planning applications. It identifies habitats, assesses protected species potential, and scopes any further survey requirements.
A Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) — formerly known as a Phase 1 Habitat Survey or Extended Phase 1 — is a desk study and walkover survey of a development site and its immediate surroundings. It identifies and evaluates habitats present, assesses their potential to support protected or notable species, and provides recommendations for any further targeted survey work.
The PEA follows CIEEM's Guidelines for Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (2nd Edition, 2017) and is the standard baseline ecological document submitted alongside planning applications. Most Local Planning Authorities require a PEA (or equivalent) before ecological conditions can be attached or discharged.
The desk study collates existing ecological data relevant to the site from authoritative sources:
A walkover survey is carried out by a qualified ecologist to map all habitats using Phase 1 classification, record notable flora, and assess the potential for protected species. Target notes are recorded for any features of particular ecological interest.
The PEA report presents desk study findings, a Phase 1 habitat map, evaluation of habitats and protected species potential, and clear recommendations for further survey work. It is the core ecological document for most planning submissions and provides the LPA with the information required to assess ecological impacts and apply appropriate conditions.
We routinely carry out an Extended Phase 1 survey, supplementing the standard habitat mapping with additional in-field assessments — such as rapid bat roost potential assessments of trees and structures, preliminary reptile habitat assessments, and initial great crested newt pond assessments where ponds are present. This integrated approach maximises the value of the first visit and can reduce the overall number of survey visits required.
The PEA now serves a dual purpose — it not only informs protected species requirements but also provides the habitat baseline data required for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) calculations under the Statutory Biodiversity Metric 4.0. Where BNG is required, we ensure habitat condition assessments are carried out to the standard required by the metric during the same site visit where possible.
A PEA can usually be scoped and quoted quickly. Contact us to discuss your site and timescales.
Best April–September for botanical information
Mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is now in force for all major and minor developments in England. All relevant planning applications must demonstrate a minimum 10% net gain in biodiversity units using the Statutory Biodiversity Metric 4.0.
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is a planning requirement that means development must leave biodiversity in a measurably better state than before. Under Schedule 7A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (inserted by the Environment Act 2021), most planning permissions in England are now subject to a mandatory condition requiring a minimum 10% biodiversity net gain before development commences.
BNG is measured using Natural England's Statutory Biodiversity Metric 4.0, which calculates biodiversity units for habitats pre-development (the baseline) and post-development (the proposed condition). The difference between the two must show a minimum 10% net gain. Getting the habitat condition assessment right at baseline stage is critical to producing a defensible metric calculation.
The Statutory Biodiversity Metric 4.0 is the mandatory calculation tool for BNG on most applications. It assesses habitats based on distinctiveness, condition, size (area for broad habitats; length for linear features such as hedgerows and watercourses), and a strategic significance multiplier. The metric produces a biodiversity unit value for baseline and proposed habitats.
Condition assessment is the most critical and consequential element of the metric. Inaccurate or poorly evidenced condition scores can significantly distort unit values in either direction. We carry out thorough, field-evidenced habitat condition assessments against Natural England's condition assessment modules to ensure your metric is robust and defensible at planning.
BNG must be delivered in a strict hierarchy prescribed by legislation. On-site habitat creation and enhancement must be maximised first. Where on-site gain is insufficient, off-site registered habitat units from a registered habitat bank may be purchased. Statutory biodiversity credits — purchased directly from Natural England — are available only as a last resort where neither on-site nor off-site options can meet the requirement.
All BNG habitats must be legally secured for a minimum of 30 years through a planning obligation (S106 agreement) or conservation covenant. We prepare detailed habitat management and monitoring plans that set out clear, deliverable management prescriptions for each habitat type and a monitoring protocol to demonstrate that biodiversity unit targets are being maintained throughout the required period.
For minor applications that do not qualify for full exemption, the Small Sites Metric (SSM) offers a simplified calculation pathway. We provide SSM calculations and the associated Biodiversity Gain Plan where required by the LPA.
BNG is now mandatory for most developments. Contact us early — BNG strategy needs to be integrated into the design process, not bolted on at the end.
Many UK bird species are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Breeding bird surveys are increasingly required by planning authorities to inform ecological impact assessments, particularly for larger development sites and those with significant habitat value.
All wild birds, their active nests and eggs are protected under Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). It is an offence to intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird, or to take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built. Certain species listed on Schedule 1 of the WCA receive additional protection against disturbance.
Breeding bird surveys are required where development proposals could affect habitats used by nesting birds, or where Schedule 1 species may be present. They are also commonly required as part of Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA) for larger developments, infrastructure projects, and sites with significant ornithological interest.
For many planning applications, a Phase 1 bird survey — carried out as part of the wider Preliminary Ecological Appraisal — is sufficient to characterise bird use of the site and identify whether further targeted surveys are required. This involves a walkover assessment of the site's habitats and their suitability for nesting birds, along with opportunistic recording of species present during the survey visit.
Where a more detailed assessment is required, breeding bird surveys are carried out during the breeding season (typically April to July) to record all bird species using the site for nesting and feeding. Our surveyors use standard BTO methodology including territory mapping and point count techniques to produce a robust and repeatable dataset.
Where development sites support significant wintering bird populations — particularly waders, wildfowl, or raptors — wintering bird surveys may be required between October and March. These assess the importance of the site for over-wintering species and inform mitigation requirements.
Certain species on Schedule 1 of the WCA receive additional legal protection against disturbance at or near the nest. Where Schedule 1 species such as barn owl, peregrine falcon, kingfisher, or red kite are known or suspected to be nesting on or near a development site, targeted surveys may be required. Works affecting Schedule 1 nesting sites may require a licence from Natural England.
Barn owls are a Schedule 1 species and are commonly encountered on development sites containing old farm buildings, barns, and mature trees with cavities. Where barn owl use is confirmed, a mitigation strategy must be developed — typically involving the provision of replacement nesting opportunities and careful timing of works to avoid the breeding season.
Where bird survey data is required to inform an Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA), we compile survey results into a full assessment of likely impacts on bird assemblages, identify mitigation and compensation requirements, and provide recommendations that are proportionate to the ecological value of the site.
Contact us to discuss your site — we'll advise on the appropriate survey scope and seasonal requirements.
Core breeding season: April–July
Badgers and their setts are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. Any development that could affect badger setts or well-used foraging routes requires a badger survey, and interference with setts requires a licence from Natural England.
The badger (Meles meles) is one of the most legally protected mammals in the UK. The Protection of Badgers Act 1992 makes it an offence to wilfully kill, injure or take a badger, or to interfere with a badger sett — meaning to damage, destroy, obstruct access to, or cause a dog to enter a sett. The Act applies regardless of whether badgers are currently using the sett.
In practical terms, this means any development that could affect a badger sett — or access routes and foraging habitat used by badgers — requires a badger survey to be carried out before planning is granted or works commence. Where impacts on setts are unavoidable, a licence from Natural England (or Natural Resources Wales) must be obtained before any works take place.
A badger sett survey is a thorough field assessment of the site and surrounding land (typically within 30m of the development footprint, or further where the habitat warrants it) to identify all badger setts, assess their classification, and evaluate the likely impacts of the proposed development. The survey also records badger paths, latrines, hair snags, and other field signs to build a picture of badger activity on and around the site.
Where the initial sett survey identifies significant badger activity or where impacts on foraging habitat are anticipated, additional activity surveys may be required. These typically involve camera trap deployment at sett entrances and along key foraging routes to establish the number of badgers using the site, their activity patterns, and the importance of different habitat areas to the local badger population.
Following survey work, we prepare a badger survey report and impact assessment that presents findings clearly, evaluates the significance of likely impacts, and sets out a proportionate mitigation strategy. This document forms part of the ecological supporting information for the planning application.
Where development will affect a badger sett — even if it appears to be inactive — a licence from Natural England is required before any exclusion works or sett interference can take place. The licence authorises the temporary or permanent closure of the sett, typically using one-way gates that allow badgers to leave but not return, followed by careful monitoring to confirm the sett has been vacated before works proceed.
Where possible, we work with developers and architects at an early stage to design developments that avoid impacting badger setts altogether, or that incorporate badger-friendly features such as underpasses, badger gates in fencing, and habitat buffers around setts. A pragmatic approach at the design stage can avoid the need for licensing entirely and significantly reduce project risk.
Even where a licence is not required, the timing of vegetation clearance and groundworks should take account of badger breeding activity. Cubs are typically born between January and March and remain underground for 6–8 weeks. Works that could disturb an active breeding sett during this period carry a significant risk of committing an offence under the 1992 Act, even where accidental.
Contact us to discuss your site. We'll advise on survey requirements, timescales and whether a licence is likely to be needed.
Surveys can be carried out year-round; avoid disturbing breeding setts Jan–Mar