Use Table 1 to see where protected species are likely to be present to assess the chance of a development proposal affecting them.
Table 1. Likely habitat for protected species.
Habitat, building or land | Species to look for |
Ancient or veteran trees or those with significant decay features | Bats, breeding birds, dormice |
Cellars, ice houses, old mines and caves | Bats |
Buildings with features suitable for bats, or large gardens in suburban and rural areas | Bats, breeding birds, badgers, reptiles and great crested newts |
Traditional timber-framed building (such as a barn or oast house) | Bats, breeding birds including barn owls |
Lakes, rivers and streams (on the land or nearby) | Breeding birds, fish, otters, water voles and white-clawed crayfish |
Heathland on, nearby or linked to the site (by similar habitat) | Breeding birds, badgers, dormice, reptiles, invertebrates, natterjack toads and protected plants |
Meadows, grassland, parkland and pasture on the land or linked to the site (by similar habitat) | Bats, badgers, breeding birds, great crested newts, invertebrates, reptiles and protected plants |
Ponds or slow-flowing water bodies (like ditches) on the site, or within 500m and linked by semi-natural habitat such as parks or heaths | Breeding birds, fish, great crested newts, water voles, invertebrates and white-clawed crayfish |
Rough grassland and previously developed land (brownfield sites), on or next to the site | Breeding bird, reptiles, invertebrate and protected plants |
Woodland, scrub and hedgerows on, or next to the site | Bats, breeding birds, badgers, dormice, invertebrates, great crested newts, reptiles and protected plants |
Coastal habitats | Breeding birds, fish, natterjack toads, otters and invertebrates |