Protected Species Survey

Slow worms, common lizards, grass snakes and adders are protected from being killed or injured under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and the rare sand lizard and smooth snake are fully protected. Natural England tells councils to ask for a survey where records or suitable habitat suggest reptiles may be present (gov.uk).

Rough grassland, scrub edges, railway banks, allotments and brownfield land with rubble are typical. The survey places sheets of roofing felt or tin across the site and checks under them about seven times between April and September, in warm but not hot weather.

If reptiles are found, the usual answer is to move them to a prepared area of the site or nearby before work starts, which adds time in the active season.

Badgers and their setts are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. Councils ask for a survey where badgers are known to be active or the site has suitable sett or feeding habitat, and Natural England notes that the absence of records does not mean there are no badgers (gov.uk).

A survey searches the site and its edges for setts, paths, latrines and digging, and judges whether any sett is in use. It can be done for most of the year, and is often easiest from late winter into spring before vegetation grows.

If a sett would be damaged or badgers disturbed, a licence from Natural England is needed. There is no fee, a licence is normally issued only after full planning permission, and setts are usually closed only between July and November (Planning Portal).

Vegetation clearance during the bird nesting season is the most common issue on small sites. Where it cannot be avoided, an ecologist checks immediately before clearance and work stops around any active nest until the young have left.