WATER VOLE SURVEYS
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The water vole is the largest vole in the UK, inhabiting rivers, streams, canals and ditches and burrowing within banks alongside watercourses. Water voles feed primarily on reeds and sedges along watercourses, leaving pieces of cut vegetation and droppings as evidence of their presence.
The introduction of American Mink at the beginning of the 20th century has driven a large decline in the population of water vole in the UK, exacerbated by the loss of wetland habitat through farming and development.
The water vole and their habitats are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) and is a species of Principal Importance in England under Section 41 of the NERC Act 2006.
Therefore local authorities are obliged to ensure protection of the species when determining planning applications. If the planning authority determines that sufficient protection will not be given to water vole during works in a location with water vole potential, planning permission will be refused and the project will be delayed
BL Ecology Ltd can undertake surveys to establish the potential for water vole on site, and full presence/absence surveys can be undertaken if potential exists. Once the likely impact of the development is assessed, a mitigation plan can be created in order to satisfy the requirements of the planning authority and allow the development to proceed.
Often minor adjustments to the development in order avoid potential water vole habitat will sufficiently demonstrate protection of the species. However if translocation is required, it is imperative that surveys commence as soon as possible in order to undertake mitigation at a suitable time of year.
Surveys and mitigation for water vole can be undertaken between March and October inclusive in suitable conditions