Preliminary Ecological Appraisal and Otter License – North Yorkshire

Client – Amey

Key Services – Impact Assessment, Species Surveys

Project – Protected species surveys and otter mitigation license for Parkland Restoration Works

Duration – Spring 2017 to Autumn 2022

Background – A large historic estate in North Yorkshire, comprising mature parkland, woodland, lakes and numerous listed buildings/structures.

Ecological Input – Haycock and Jay Associates Ltd. were commissioned to undertake a suite of protected species surveys in order to assess the impact of proposed Parkland Restoration Works. Surveys included badger surveys, water vole and otter surveys, bat emergence/re-entry surveys and ground-level roost assessment of numerous trees and woodland.

Outcomes – A Natural England licence was produced for destruction/disturbance of an Otter Holt and ongoing monitoring taking place following the works. Alongside the otter mitigation license, ground-level Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRAs) of trees scheduled for works as part of a Tree and Woodland Management Plan were assessed withmost trees found to have negligible suitability for bats, bat emergence/re-entry surveys of the various follies, park walls and structures within the site were undertaken and a full Preliminary Ecological Appraisal was undertaken to inform Parkland Restoration Works

Otter Mitigation – The surveys identified the presence of an otter holt within one of the bridge on site due for restoration. As such a Natural England mitigation Licence for the destruction/disturbance of an otter holt was applied for and granted, in addition to the creation of an artificial holt within the site.

Monitoring involving otter surveys and the use of remote trail cameras at the site has confirmed the continued presence of otter using the retained holt within the restored bridge with otter cubs recorded over the 5 years of monitoring.