PUBLIC INQUIRY & EXPERT WITNESS

ECUS has delivered a number of EA’s through to planning consent via a range of routes, including s.106 Agreements, Public Inquiries and Parliamentary procedures. Over the years, we have provided Expert Witness representation on a range of subjects.

Should you require any further information our contact details are at the foot of this page or use our contact us page and a member of the team will be happy to assist.

ECOLOGICAL PLANNING POLICY & DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT

Our Ecology team has earned a reputation for undertaking work at the forefront of ecological planning and management. This is perfectly exemplified by the considerable body of work undertaken for central government (DoE, DETR, DEFRA, DFID) and the statutory agencies such as English Nature, Countryside Council for Wales, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Environment Agency.  We have been contracted to produce best practice guidelines and R&D papers on important issues such as mine and quarry reclamation, peatland restoration, wetland conservation and invasive weed control.  

Should you require any further information our contact details are at the foot of this page or use our contact us page and a member of the team will be happy to assist.

AQUATIC ECOLOGY & HYDROECOLOGY

ECUS' in-house specialist Aquatic Ecology team are highly experienced in dealing with habitat restoration, pollution impact assessments, invasive species control, protected species conservation and management and regular monitoring and survey. We can provide a unique package of expertise and resources in the field of wetland ecology and our central location enables us to resource projects effieciently throughout the UK.

In addition to our full-time staff of five ecologists ECUS Ecology is linked to one of the UK’s largest Biological Science Departments and we are fortunate to be able call upon the services of a large number of associate aquatic ecologists, water scientists and hydrologists including nationally and internationally renowned specialists in the field of wetland ecology.

Typical areas of work include aquatic macrophyte and macroinvertebrate surveys to a range of standard or tailored methodologies, environmental assessment of engineering works, review of abstraction licences, SSSI/SAC monitoring and works to control invasive non-native species.

• Aquatic macrophyte survey, assessment and monitoring
• Invasive non-native species
• Freshwater macroinvertebrate survey assessment and monitoring
• Water quality
• Hydro-ecology
• Water level management plans
• Wetland design, creation, restoration and management
• River habitat survey
• Nutrient and diffuse pollution assessment and management
• Research and development
• Crayfish ecology
• Protected species
• Aquatic macrophyte translocation
• Lake restoration ecology
• Strategic wetland resource assessment
• Environmental impact of water resource management
• Groundwater protection

Should you require any further information our contact details are at the foot of this page or use our contact us page and a member of the team will be happy to assist.

HABITAT MANAGEMENT & RESTORATION

Further details to follow - should you require any further information our contact details are at the foot of this page or use our contact us page and a member of the team will be happy to assist.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Further details to follow - should you require any further information our contact details are at the foot of this page or use our contact us page and a member of the team will be happy to assist.

ECOLOGICAL SURVEY & MONITORING

One of the principal elements of the majority of ecological work is the survey. We need to know what is on a site before we can assess its value, understand its management needs or look at environmental impacts. Our track record over the last twenty years has included:

• Phase 1 and extended Phase 1 surveys
• National vegetation classification survey and mapping
• River corridor and river habitat surveys
• Protected species
• Aquatic and terrestrial invertebrate surveys including specialist identification
• Breeding and winter bird surveys
• Fish
• Water quality and ecotoxicology
• Other surveys such as lichens, fungi, tree root identification, etc

Should you require any further information our contact details are at the foot of this page or use our contact us page and a member of the team will be happy to assist.

PROTECTED SPECIES

A wide range of plants and animals are given legal protection under UK and European legislation including the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) and the Habitats Regulations (1994). ECUS Ecology specialise in protected species survey, assessment, monitoring, mitigation and licensing, and providing a comprehensive ecological survey, management and advisory service to industry, statutory and non-statutory bodies throughout the UK and overseas.

Survey, Assessment & Monitoring

ECUS Ecologists routinely undertake surveys for a number of species including:

• Badger
• Bat
• Otter
• Great crested newt
• Water vole
• Crayfish
• Reptiles
• Breeding birds
• Luronium natans and other protected aquatic plants

As well as standard surveys, ECUS can provide detailed ecological assessments such as population estimates and behavioral studies.

All ecological surveys and monitoring studies are carried out under the appropriate licences held by ECUS staff.

Licensing & Development Mitigation

ECUS Ecology routinely prepares detailed impact avoidance and mitigation proposals tailored to meet site specific requirements of DEFRA licensing, and regularly undertake implementation of mitigation measures including:

• Design and build of habitat creation
• Restoration schemes
• Translocation schemes 

Should you require any further information our contact details are at the foot of this page or use our contact us page and a member of the team will be happy to assist.