Baker Consultants Ltd

Trees and woodland are essential for the UK populations of bats. Woodland provides shelter and foraging habitats for bats, but perhaps the most significant use of trees by bats is as roosts. Most species in the UK will roost in trees, and some species rely exclusively on trees for roost sites. The legal protection afforded to bats and their roosts is strict and local authorities or the competent authority often require the likelihood of roosts being present to be considered before undertaking tree works. Tree works on development sites can have permanent or long-term impacts and national good practise survey guidelines (published by the Bat Conservation Trust) states, “where this type of work could impact on bats, it is essential that trees on and around the site are assessed comprehensively”.

Assessing trees for bat roosts can require considerable effort because the features that bats use can often be small, high in the canopy of the tree and obscured by foliage. That’s great for predator avoidance, but presents ecologists with difficulties when surveying. There are several methods to survey trees and the level of survey is somewhat dependent on the value of the habitat for bats and the extent of the impacts.

Hugh Dixon, consultant ecologist at Capita Symons said: “A climb and inspect survey by Baker Consultants in March enabled us to identify a tree roost at an early stage of our development. We subsequently applied for an EPS licence and were able to fell the tree without causing delay to the programme of works. This saved money on the project and proved to be an effective method of surveying."

At Baker Consultants we have bat ecologists that are Lantra qualified tree climbers. Tree climbing using roped access is an advanced survey technique that allows us to climb-and-inspect trees to check for cavities and inspect them with an endoscope or mirrors. This has great advantages as it allows a detailed inspection of trees to be carried out cost effectively. Close inspection of tree cavities enables the surveyor to identify the presence of bats and evidence that may indicate previous occupancy by bats. It also allows the surveyor to assess the potential of a roost with greater confidence.

Due to the legal protection afforded to bat roosts it is important to minimise the risk of damaging or destroying a roost. If a tree roost is damaged, it is important that consultants and their clients are able to demonstrate that good practise was followed. At Baker Consultants we have a team of experienced bat ecologists that will be able to advise you on the appropriate level of assessment of the trees at your site. We can put together a survey programme based on your requirements.

Removal of trees as part of a planned development often requires mitigation and is likely to require trees to be recorded individually. Tree climbing is a cost-effective and efficient way to accurately record actual and likely bat roosts. We often work alongside arboriculturalists during tree works, climbing and inspecting the trees immediately prior to the trees being felled.

If you have trees on your development site that may need an assessment, contact Anton at a.kattan@bakerconsultants.co.uk.

Get our tree-climbers up there before they get leaves on (the trees that is)!

Baker Consultants has just completed its first year of trading and what a year it has been! While many thought it brave to start a new consultancy in the depths of a recession, events proved such skepticism to be unfounded. Although the market was tough for everyone we were able to demonstrate that those who can respond quickly to adverse market conditions and provide clients with a quality service that is efficient and tailored to their specific needs can thrive. Within three weeks of our launch we had secured 200% of our predicted annual turnover for Year 1 (so much for business planning!).

Innovation is at the heart of our business, whether it is cost-effective use of information technology (our server not only provides all our data to all our consultants wherever they are but we cut costs from a quote of £12k to £120!), provision of services new to the industry (ask us about our ecology risk assessments), or our unique charging structure, our innovative approach has allowed us to thrive in our first 12 months being highly competitive on price.

Our early success meant that we were quickly able to build up a strong team of consultants and support staff. We were in the fortunate position of having a long queue of experienced professionals waiting to join us and we set about building up a coherent, knowledgeable team many of whom had previously worked together for many years. We have expanded the team further at the beginning of 2010 in readiness for the survey season and have an order book which is looking very healthy indeed.

As well as our in-house team we can call upon the services of what we call our ‘key partners’ who are nationally recognised specialist consultants providing us with complementary skills such as invertebrate surveys, access and recreation consultancy and ecological contracting.

Having successfully targeted those industries that we knew were growing and provided our existing clients with a value service they need, we are looking forward to further expansion into new markets with new senior appointments, in 2010.

Finally we will soon be announcing our new office, which will provide us with a much-needed base in a highly prestigious and sustainable location.

More on that to follow later.

The Baker Consultants team is currently reviewing the Department for Communities and Local Government consultation paper on a new Planning Policy Statement ‘Planning for a Natural and Healthy Environment'

It is proposed that this new PPS will replace PPS9 on Biodiversity and Geological Conservation.

The scope of the new PPS has been extended to include open spaces, sport and recreation, sustainable development in rural areas, landscape protection and coastal access.

The biodiversity aspects of the new PPS are greatly reduced when compared with PPS9 however the consultation includes a revised version of ODPM Circular 06/2005 and Defra Circular 01/2005 Circular: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation - Statutory obligations and their impact within the planning system.

Consultation closes on 1st June 2010 so make sure you have your say. To join in the discussion comment on this blog below or contact anyone at the Baker Consultants team here.

Nature conservation law is under continuous review and further changes have been announced that are proposed to come into force on April 1st 2010.

The proposed changes include consolidation and amendment to the Habitat Regulations 1994, the Offshore Marine Conservation Regulations and the Environmental Damage Regulations 2009.

The full documents can be viewed at the OPSI web site by clicking on the links above.

If you require any advice on these documents or would like to receive them as a pdf please contact andrew on a.baker@bakerconsultants.co.uk or 07950 122969.