Phase 1 and Extended Phase 1 Survey

Phase 1 and Extended Phase 1 surveys are very regularly undertaken and are often required by planning authorities and others as the most basic form of ecological field investigation. 

Phase 1 habitat survey is conducted using a nationally-accepted methodology; the site is surveyed and habitats are identified and mapped using standard habitat categories.

Target notes are made to describe features of ecological interest, e.g. significant habitats, rare or important species etc..

Survey and reporting are relatively quick to complete and provide valuable information when making decisions about an area - such as for conservation management or planning decisions.

Often this basic survey is 'extended' to include more detailed protected species recording and the assessment of habitat suitability for protected species.

Optimum timing for survey is March to September, during the plant growing season, but surveys outside of these months are still useful.

Botanical Survey

Where more detailed botanical recording is required, a survey to National Vegetation Classification (NVC) standards is undertaken.

Plant species are recorded in detail in order to classify the different plant communities present. Some plant communities are common and widespread, but others are more important and will be highlighted from NVC survey results.

Botanical surveys can be conducted from March to October, although optimal surveying time is usually April to September.

Hedgerow Survey

Hedgerows are an important landscape feature and are the subject of their own legal Act.  Standard hedgerow survey techniques are used to record hedgerow distribution and quality. They cover such aspects as hedgerow structure, setting, associated features, and wood and ground flora components.

Surveys involve complete survey or sampling if the study area is large. Data collected during surveys are examined against set criteria to assess the importance of each hedgerow, as well as being used to determine hedgerow 'condition' and guide conservation management.

Hedgerow surveys are used to identify 'important' hedgerows in accordance with the Hedgerow Regulations (1997).

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