What does a hedgerow survey involve?
Our expert surveyors will visit the site and assess each hedgerow according to several factors, such as length, connectivity, and the presence of associated features, such as mature trees and ditches. Our surveyors also record a comprehensive list of the plant species present within the hedgerow. These factors indicate how ecologically important a hedgerow is.
We use tithe maps from the local record centre to establish if a hedgerow is historically important.
What happens next?
Our hedgerow survey report will tell you if your hedgerows are ecologically and / or historically important under the Hedgerow Regulations (1997).
To ensure a positive outcome for your planning application, we provide advice on how hedgerows can be protected, maintained, enhanced or replaced during and after development.
Are we the right surveyors for you?
Our surveyors undergo an annual botanical exam (field identification skills certificate), run by Manchester Metropolitan University and the Botanical Society for Britain and Ireland (BSBI). All our surveyors have a level four FISC or above, which certifies them as competent to undertake complex botanical surveys.
Our surveys comply with the requirements of the wildlife and landscape criteria in the Hedgerow Regulations (1997), and follow Defra’s Hedgerow survey handbook (2007).
In addition, our surveyors are also members of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), which promotes the highest standards of practice through a professional code of conduct and continuing professional development.
For more information on hedgerow protection and regulations, please follow the below link: