Badgers receive strict protection under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 and Schedule 6 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 (as amended). Where disturbance to badgers or their setts is unavoidable a licence is required prior to any work.
DWS Ecologists have experience of all aspects of the survey and licencing required to deliver projects that not only fully meet all legal obligations but also deliver planning authority requirements for development to generate environmental gains.
Initial Survey
Where a risk of disturbance to badgers and their setts has been identified, an initial survey report will be required. If evidence of badgers is found further surveys may be needed.
Further Survey Work
When a confirmed badger sett has been identified a detailed assessment of the land is required to establish the territorial boundaries of the badger social groups using the area and the distribution and status of all local setts. This is to determine which, if any, are in use and to see if there is an alternative sett to which the badgers could move within their own territory. Only the main sett is likely to be in continuous use, and it is threats to the main sett which can have the greatest impact on a badger population.
Licence Application
Most types of building work within 20 metres of a badger sett will require a licence. The use of very heavy machinery which would cause a disturbance and or ground vibration within 30 metres of a sett is also licensable.
Once planning permission has been approved a licence application can be made to Natural England. The application requires a mitigation ‘method statement’ describing how badgers will be conserved on site after development. Typical mitigation includes avoiding sensitive times of year and, depending on the type of sett affected, set destruction, sett exclusion or provision of an artificial sett and associated features.
Survey Timings
Badger surveys can be carried out throughout the year, the most effective time is between March and May when vegetation cover is reduced. Actions that may disturb badgers must be licensed by the appropriate statutory agency and are restricted to the period between 1 July and 30 November.
Contact DWS to discuss your requirements –
01388 488 885