Michael Woods Associates - ecological and environmental consultancy - wildlife surveys, vegetation surveys, river corridor surveys , conservation management plans, environmental impact assessment, protected species surveys

Surveys using appropriate licences, involving assessment of ponds and terrestrial habitat for suitability for newts, bottle and pitfall trapping, egg searches, netting, and torchlight surveys. Assisting clients to obtain Natural England and National Assembly for Wales licences to permit exclusion and translocation; habitat creation and enhancement of ponds, terrestrial habitat, refugia and integration with hard landscapes, preparation of management plans and site monitoring.

The following works have recently been carried out under licence where necessary:

Bottle trapping, egg searches and torch surveys on development sites in Bristol, Martock and Westbury, as well as habitat evaluation and pond surveys on a 250 hectare site in Chatham, Kent

Pitfall trapping using drift fences on a development site in Wedmore, Somerset

Surveys and design of mitigation including creation of new ponds, restoration of an existing pond, construction of artificial refugia and modification of site design for the benefit of newts at an industrial site in Greater Manchester

Survey, pond restoration and preparation of a management plan at the site of a former quarry, Waterlip, Somerset

Obtained a Natural England licence to allow the construction of a cycle path through newt habitat in Lincolnshire