In the downturn, few sites are moving ahead with any speed, if at all. Sites left ‘fallow’ will quickly revert to nature and become attractive to aspects of wildlife that can become potential constraints in the future. ACD strongly recommends that house-builders plan for long term closures by manipulating habitats wherever they can:

  • It is illegal to destroy bird-nesting sites and suitable scrub and hedgerow vegetation can limit development during the nesting season from March-August. Any sites for development this year should have areas of vegetation cleared by the end of February or an acceptance that it may remain insitu until the autumn.
  • Reptile habitats can vary, but whilst a cleared demolition site has little interest for reptiles, the increase of vegetative cover will increase its interest and a site that this year required no reptile survey or translocation could become next years destination of lizard choice. Whilst not a European protected species, it is again illegal to wilfully harm reptiles – better to ensure that the site is reptile fenced to limit access, or that the ground is manipulated to limit vegetation ie ploughing or strimming.
  • Badgers are constantly on the move and surveys are best left until development is imminent, as a sett closure or disturbance licence will require current survey data – but be warned, badgers love derelict sites where they can be left in peace and quiet, the grassier the better. Scrub regeneration, grass left unmaintained and general lack of use will be an attraction for foraging badgers and an outlier sett that one may dig for temporary cover, may become a more permanent maternal sett if the ground conditions are right, food plentiful and humans absent. Keep it clear – it is the same habitat that birds will use for nesting and can develop very quickly.
  • Bats are a European Protected Species and are also constantly changing roosting sites. Buildings left intact on sites will therefore be of interest if they have enclosed and draught-free loft spaces, tile hanging or other suitable roost areas. The answer is simple if demolition is for whatever reason not permitted – render the spaces unsuitable by opening them where possible.
  • Japanese Knotweed is an invasive Notifiable weed that can blight a development site and pose an expensive problem if eradication is required swiftly. Standard chemical eradication is achieved cost-effectively over a three year period, but an instant fix is only achieved through physical removal of the soil containing the root rhizomes (up to 3m deep and 7m from the clump centre) to a registered tip for contaminated soil, or the use of a ‘quick-fix’ contractor who uses increased chemical dosing and cane-injection at a seriously inflated cost to cover their guarantee. Check sites in April/May for signs of the weed and deal with it with Glyphosate chemical application whilst it is still affordable.

You will know all about great crested newts and water-bodies left on site, you will know a little less about stag-beetles and their favourite places, you will probably be unaware of chalkland ground-nesting birds and you probably shudder at the thought of water-voles taking a fancy to your stream – plan for it, allow for it in your revised programming and take the necessary measures to ensure it doesnt come back to bite you in a years time!