Ecological services

Our well-established ecology department has been working in Cornwall since 1992. Currently, Cornwall Environmental Consultants employs 8 ecologists and 3 bat ecologists. Staff experience and qualifications cover a wide range of ecology work, various levels of surveying, species protection, administration of on-site conservation and management contracts, and specialist work such as intertidal and marine work, mine shaft bat surveys and reptile relocation.

We have specialist in-house equipment such as bat detectors of various specifications, software to help analysing NVC survey data as well as dormice and reptile survey elements (survey boxes, ground plates). We have also recently purchased two Trimble GPS handhelds.

Over our long time of trading, we have established good working relationships with suppliers of specialist conservation and monitoring equipment, to fulfil more specialised tasks.

Cornwall Environmental Consultants ecology department can provide the following services ranging from small Phase 1 habitat surveys, bat and barn owl surveys and management plans, to complex and large NVC surveys:

• Desk Top Studies to inform feasibility studies, planning applications etc. and to determine the likely scope of ecological work required for a project
• Ecological Survey and Assessment (Phase 1 and 2 Habitat Surveys, NVC Surveys)
• Environmental Impact Assessment in line with IEEM guidelines, DMRB guidelines and regulations
• Protected Species Surveys and Monitoring (such as bats, badgers, dormice, reptiles, birds) including Bat and Barn Owl Surveys, Bat Tree Surveys, DEFRA and Natural England Licensing and Badger Bait Marking
• Site Management Planning (for example Management Plans for Nature Conservation and Biodiversity)
• Habitat Restoration and Monitoring (for example heathland and woodland restoration)
• Watching Briefs and Contract Administration (for example for badger and reptile fencing contracts)
• Applied Research (for example to inform nature conservation strategies or to aid decision making)
• Intertidal and Marine Work

Ecological Project Examples

• A30 Reptile Trapping and Relocation including watching brief for reptiles, dormice and nesting birds
• A391 Route Corridors Ecological and Bat Surveys
• Badger Exclusion at RAF Portreath
• Bat and Barn Owl Surveys
• Dartmoor and Salisbury Plain NVC Surveys
• Helman Tor Nature Reserve Management Plan
• Marsh Fritillary Butterfly Survey and Monitoring
• Mineral Tramways
• Penzance and Newlyn Harbour Marine Ecology Impact Assessment