There are six native species of common reptile in the UK; the grass snake, slow-worm, adder, common lizard, smooth snake and sand lizard. All receive strict legal protection. The rarer species (smooth snake and sand lizard) receive additional protection at a European level. Generally reptiles are encountered in grassland, scrubland or on the fringes of woodland and hedgerows. They are also often found in back gardens and on brown field sites meaning that in our experience, reptiles are amongst the most commonly encountered species.

Reptile Surveys

Should initial surveys of a site identify habitats potentially suitable for reptiles, Clarkson and Woods can carry out a detailed habitat appraisal, direct observation of basking sites and refugia surveys using sheets of roofing felt and corrugated tin.  These are checked regularly over approximately a minimum of month, typically during the early morning or later afternoon, when temperatures are between 9 and 18ºC. Any reptiles recorded are identified according to species, sex and age class.  In certain circumstances photographs of individuals may be taken so that they can be identified in future survey visits.  Many species of reptiles have unique markings on their head and back that can be used a little like a fingerprint.

Amphibian Surveys

Where habitat suitable for amphibians is present further surveys may be necessary, this is most commonly required for great crested newts.  Surveys are generally necessary for newts for all ponds within a 250m radius of the edge of a development site (and occasionally up to 500m from sites).  A range of techniques are available for survey, all of which require the surveyor to hold a Natural England survey licence.  Most commonly applied is the eDNA survey, a relatively recent survey method whereby water samples are taken from the pond and sent to a laboratory for analysis.  Any great crested newt DNA in the water sample will be identified therefore allowing the presence or absence of newts to be confirmed.

Where presence of newts is confirmed or considered likely more traditional survey techniques including bottle trapping, sweep netting, egg searching and night time torchlight surveys are necessary so as to confirm the likely population size within a pond.  Such surveys are not always essential but are necessary when ponds are likely to be damaged or removed by development.

We can also complete surveys on land for newts by setting out carpet tiles and other refugia which newts will shelter beneath.  These techniques can be helpful in understanding the distribution of newts on a site but are rarely considered sufficiently reliable to rule out the presence of newts on the site.

Further Help

Where the presence of great crested newts are confirmed licences may be necessary before site clearance and construction works can commence.  We have a huge amount of experience in obtaining licences, often for very complex projects.  One of our principal ecologists, Polly Luscombe, is a specialist within this area and one of only a handful of ecologists in the country who is able to apply for Great Crested Newt Low Impact Class Licences (GLICL).   Once licences have been obtained fencing can be erected around areas of habitat to be lost and a translocation exercise completed.  Such exercises can take between 30 and 90 days to complete and are generally only completed in the spring and autumn.  Good project planning is essential when great crested newts are likely to be present on your site to avoid delays and unnecessary expense.

We can also assist with applications for district licenses which are now becoming widely available.  These provide an alternative to the traditional licensing routes which involve fencing and capture, instead with mitigation measures being focused on off-site habitat creation and enhancement. District licensing can be an easier and potentially less time consuming approach to resolving great crested newt constraints although our experience to date is that the costs of licensing typically are slightly higher than those of traditional licensing techniques.

Licences are however not always necessary, indeed they should only really be considered as a last resort.  We are able to resolve many projects without recourse to licenses, either by completing construction works under a Risk Avoidance Method Statement (RAMS) or avoiding newts by timing site clearance works to periods when they are likely to be absent.

Mitigation for reptiles is in many respects similar to those for great crested newts in so far as it typically involves erection of fencing and the capture and removal of animals.  Licences are rarely necessary unless working with rarer species such as sand lizards and smooth snake, but a reptile translocation site will be necessary that is suitable for reptiles but currently has the space and capacity to receive the translocated population.  Surveys of receptor sites for reptiles are almost always necessary.

For both reptiles and amphibians work is almost always restricted between November and March when these species are typically in hibernation.  Therefore the majority of work for both species takes place in the spring, summer and autumn.  Peak summer months can also be challenging as for amphibians they tend to be difficult to find (as they generally seek damp environments) whilst for reptiles the heat during the summer can make capture of animals very challenging!