Ecus will be rebranded as Cura Terrae on the 6th January 2025.
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Land & Nature Services

Delivering sustainable solutions for a thriving environment

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A multidisciplinary approach to your environmental requirements

Our multidisciplinary teams work together to combine their expertise in ecology, the historic environment, environmental impact assessment, landscape architecture, habitat creation and restoration, and arboriculture, delivering successful sustainable development solutions. Working together, we provide environmental services across the whole lifecycle of your project – from initial feasibility and options appraisal, through design development and consenting, to construction and operation.

Project lifecycle

Ecus delivers land and nature services across every phase of the project lifecycle, ensuring projects meet environmental goals efficiently and responsibly.

  • Feasibility and options assessment

    Services offered

    • Assessments and reports

      • High-level mapping identifies environmental and planning constraints using public data and site visits to guide site selection.

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      • Matrix-based appraisals balance development benefits and impacts across disciplines like ecology, heritage, and landscape.

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      • Rapid feasibility studies assess historic environment constraints and opportunities, supporting informed site planning decisions.

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      • Robust assessments map and describe unique landscape types and areas, defining distinctive features.

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      Site works

      • Early-stage ecological appraisals flag potential impacts, identify survey needs, and support planning decisions.

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      • Surveys analyse landscapes, identifying site constraints and opportunities to support layout proposals.

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    • Assessments and reports

      • Baseline surveys and biodiversity metrics assess project feasibility, offering tailored recommendations for achieving biodiversity net gain.

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      • Strategic guidance to optimise biodiversity net gain strategies, ensuring compliance and ecological value.

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    • Assessments and reports

      • High-level plans establish a strategic vision early, guiding the detailed masterplanning stage.

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    • Assessments and reports

      • Comprehensive assessments navigate conservation regulations, ensuring robust, evidence-based conclusions for protected sites.

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  • Design Development and Consenting

    Services offered

    • Assessments and reports

      • Screening reports determine if developments require Environmental Impact Assessments, helping clients navigate regulatory requirements.

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      • Scoping identifies likely significant environmental effects and sets survey and assessment requirements, streamlining EIA processes.

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      • Comprehensive EIAs assess environmental impacts and support planning decisions, with findings presented in accessible statements.

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      • Comprehensive assessments identify site constraints and advise on mitigation, informing budget, planning, and archaeological needs.

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      • Policy-compliant heritage statements assess significance and impact, tailored for planning applications and consents.

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      • In-depth assessments quantify impacts on ecological features, proposing tailored mitigation and compensation measures.

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      • Detailed assessments predict and evaluate development impacts on landscapes, offering mitigation solutions.

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    • Assessments and reports

      • Statements align developments with policies, detailing design and access considerations to support sustainable planning.

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      • Specialist guidance simplifies licencing for protected species, ensuring compliance and minimising project delays.

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      • Accredited experts provide robust technical evidence for hearings, inquiries, and planning appeals.

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      Site works

      • Proactive consultation engages stakeholders and communities, fostering understanding, addressing concerns, and securing buy-in.

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    • Assessments and reports

      • Plans for sustainable management of heritage assets, addressing maintenance, access, and future resilience in coordination with specialists.

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    • Assessments and reports

      • Expert support for Appropriate Assessment and Derogation under the Habitats Regulations, ensuring compliance near protected sites.

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    • Assessments and reports

      • Detailed metrics and plans guide habitat management and monitoring, ensuring long-term biodiversity success.

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      • Collaborative designs align with BNG targets, enhancing habitats that can be delivered effectively onsite.

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      Site works

      • Preliminary habitat surveys identify type, condition, and baseline units, with recommendations for biodiversity net gain.

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    • Assessments and reports

      • Specialist support to meet legal requirements, safeguard wildlife, and implement measures like fencing, sett closures, and habitat enhancements.

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      • Comprehensive designs include planting plans and construction details, integrating solutions with other disciplines.

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    • Site works

      • Comprehensive surveys ensure legal compliance, with tailored solutions optimising costs and aligning with project needs.

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      • Specialist surveys identify invasive plants and provide tailored management plans to control or remove them.

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      • Classifies vegetation into plant communities to support monitoring, restoration, and site management plans.

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      • Accurately identifies habitats to assess development impacts and inform biodiversity net gain requirements.

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      • Professional surveys meet planning requirements or inform redevelopment, tailored to established standards.

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      • Baseline surveys provide heritage insights for land acquisitions, grant applications, or management plans.

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      • Topographic surveys document archaeological features using cost-effective, industry-standard techniques.

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      • High-resolution imagery captures detailed records of structures, surfaces, and finds for planning or research needs.

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    • Site works

      • Detailed plans outline archaeological work scope, meeting local requirements to progress developments efficiently.

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      • Non-intrusive, cost-effective surveys evaluate buried archaeology, aiding risk assessment and planning applications.

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      • Pre-planning excavations assess archaeological risk, informing design and mitigation for development projects.

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  • Construction

    Services offered

    • Assessments and reports

      • CEMPs outline measures to mitigate construction impacts, ensuring compliance with environmental requirements.

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      • Plans balance commercial and conservation goals with sustainability and climate resilience in mind.

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      • Tailored plans to sustain habitat health, monitor ecological targets, and adapt to project needs for long-term biodiversity.

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    • Assessments and reports

      • Detailed plans outline retained trees, protection fencing, and no-dig areas to guide onsite construction activity.

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      Site works

      • Onsite supervision ensures compliance with planning conditions, tree protections, and arboricultural regulations.

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    • Assessments and reports

      • Tender packages include drawings, specifications, and contractor management to secure the best outcomes.

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      Site works

      • Independent professionals monitor compliance with environmental regulations during construction, ensuring mitigation measures are implemented.

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      • Ensures construction compliance by protecting biodiversity and managing ecological risks efficiently.

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      • Monitors badger activity, recommends mitigation, and handles licensed sett exclusions or habitat creation.

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      • Dedicated expert to oversee compliance, liaise with stakeholders, and deliver ecological solutions.

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      • Onsite monitoring ensures archaeological recording during construction works, minimising disruption to development.

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      • Comprehensive surveys meeting planning conditions or redevelopment needs, including planning authority liaison and professional-standard reports.

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      • Excavations mitigate harm to significant remains, providing detailed records to fulfill planning conditions.

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      • Providing expert environmental and artefact analysis, including sample processing, assessment, and detailed reporting, supporting both in-house and external archaeological projects.

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      • In-house processing of environmental samples with expert analysis and reporting on ancient environmental remains to support archaeological research and project needs.

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      • Contract services ensure quality through cost estimation, tender preparation, and ongoing site management.

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      • We deliver engaging archaeological reporting, heritage interpretation, and community events, from site panels to volunteer-led excavations, often supporting National Lottery Heritage Fund projects.

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    • Assessments and reports

      • Specialist guidance on licences for protected species, from surveys to mitigation, ensuring compliance and smooth project delivery.

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      • Support for obtaining additional consents, such as reserved matters approval or listed building consents, enabling developments to progress.

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    • Site works

      • Expert-led translocations ensure compliance, mitigate impacts, and protect sensitive species during developments.

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      • Planning and delivering projects to create, improve, or restore habitats, supporting wildlife and ecological value.

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      • Strategies to control invasive species, restore native ecosystems, and ensure regulatory compliance on-site.

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      • Licensed closure of badger setts with expert construction of artificial setts to ensure safe relocation and compliance.

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      • Installing bird, bat, or other habitat boxes to enhance site biodiversity and support local wildlife populations.

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  • Operation

    Services offered

    • Assessments and reports

      • Independent compliance audits followed by verbal feedback and detailed reports outlining non-compliance and recommended corrective actions.

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      Site works

      • Ongoing care and monitoring of habitats to maintain biodiversity, meet compliance, and support ecological health.

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      • Site visits assess compliance with permits and consents, with findings and remedial recommendations communicated to stakeholders.

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      • Ongoing monitoring verifies mitigation success, ensuring legal compliance and conservation outcomes are achieved.

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      • Other services provided by the Cura Terrae group include air monitoring, water monitoring, occupational hygiene and more.

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    • Site works

      • Integrating biodiversity-focused planting into the early design stages and monitoring ongoing implementation to ensure optimal biodiversity outcomes on-site.

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    • Site works

      • Expert-led design and establishment of new habitats to boost biodiversity and align with environmental goals.

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  • Decommissioning

    Services offered

    • Assessments and reports

      • Similar to CEMP, DEMP frameworks address environmental impacts during decommissioning, ensuring proper mitigation and monitoring.

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    • Site works

      • Rehabilitating damaged habitats using advanced techniques to restore ecological balance and biodiversity.

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Latest insights

COP 16 – Peace with Nature – 21 October to November 1

5th November 2024

In this article our expert Strategic Nature Adviser discusses the key points and outcomes from COP16 – everything you need to know.

Louise Wyatt Strategic Nature Advisor

COP16 – Just talk?

24th October 2024

Stuart Ireland, our head of Ecology, gives an insight into COP16 and what we really need from this COP to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Stuart Ireland Practice Area Lead, Ecology

COP16: Peace with Nature – launches 21 October

18th October 2024

Our expert Nature Strategy Advisor, Louise Wyatt, discusses why we have COP16, what we need from it, and why this year's theme should give us inspiration.

Louise Wyatt Strategic Nature Adviser
All insights

Spotlight project: We are managing invasive species in the North York Moors National Park

Ecus is using innovative techniques to control the invasive species Crassula helmsii, otherwise known as New Zealand pigmyweed, or Australian stonecrop, as part of a pond restoration project in the North York Moors National Park.

Ecus has been working to control an invasive plant species as part of a complex project restoring two ponds in the North York Moors. Schedule 9 of the UK Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 lists this plant as one that must not be caused to grow in the wild. Invasive species can have serious impacts on our ecosystems and native biodiversity by outcompeting other species or spreading disease. 

Read the full case study

Clients we've worked with

  • Network Rail logo
  • ABEI Energy logo
  • WSP logo
  • Octavius logo
  • Environment Agency
  • United Utilities
  • Persimmon Homes
  • National Grid logo
View our projects

Latest news

Ecus to rebrand as Cura Terrae in January 2025

28th October 2024

Ecus demonstrates high standards with IEMA EIA Quality Mark

3rd October 2024

Looking at 40 years of habitat creation: An Interview with Iain Weston

15th August 2024

Ecus archaeologists take part in Winckelmann Cup

25th June 2024

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Knowledge hubs

Arboriculture: Woodland Management Plans & Advice

Our Arboriculture Hub provides a set of resources to help with your arboriculture needs.

Biodiversity Net Gain

Here you can find expert insights to understand and successfully navigate Biodiversity Net Gain.

Archaeology

Here you will find resources around Ecus’ archaeological services, the field of archaeology and what working in this field entails.

Protected Species

In our protected species hub you will find information to help understand protected species and your obligations around them.

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Contact our experts

Contact our team for expert assistance with all your environmental needs. We’re here to answer any questions and provide solutions tailored to your requirements.

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