This review of the dormouse reintroduction programme was commissioned by Natural England to help identify the best approach to long-term conservation of dormice, to inform decisions about future action taken under the Dormouse Species Recovery Programme and to achieve the…

Planning authorities in England with responsibility for making decisions about developments that could have an impact upon ancient woodland and veteran trees can now access revised Standing Advice from Natural England. The Standing Advice on ancient woodlands and veteran trees has…

Natural England has welcomed the publication by Defra of a study which includes an evaluation of the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect great crested newts in water. It said the research presented a step forward in making it…

The RSPB has issued revised guidelines on survey to establish the presence of cirl bunting on a site (March 2014; available here). The cirl bunting Emberiza cirlus is a Wildlife and Countryside Act Schedule 1 species. Once widespread and locally common across…

A new simpler licensing process for bats, which comes into force on 31 March 2014, will save developers and consultants time and money. The new annexed licence will reduce the number of licence re-submissions and will help Natural England meet…

Natural England issued the following statement in their January 2014 EPS (European Protected Species) newsletter. Stacey Waring is currently undertaking a PhD investigating the impacts of breathable roof membranes on bats. It would appear that currently there are no BRMs…

The Association of Local Government Ecologists (ALGE) has published ‘Ecological Capacity and Competence in English Planning Authorities: What is needed to deliver statutory obligations for biodiversity?’ The report shows that many local planning authorities do not currently have either the…

Living in an urban area with green spaces has a long-lasting positive impact on people’s mental well-being, a study has suggested. UK researchers found moving to a green space had a sustained positive effect, unlike pay rises or promotions, which…

A Nathusius’ pipistrelle bat, ringed in the UK, has been found in Netherlands, 600km from where it was ringed; providing the first record of a bat crossing the sea from the UK to mainland Europe. Bat experts in the Netherlands…

We are nearing the public inquiry for this road improvement scheme on which we have been advising. Richard Green is acting as expert witness on bats and has been busy preparing his proof of evidence and supporting documents.