The Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methods (BREEAM and the Code for Sustainable Homes) are used to assess the environmental performance of both new and existing developments.
Green Ecology undertakes site surveys for the ‘Land Use & Ecology’ aspects of BREEAM and CODE assessments and have carried almost 200 assessments to date using our SQE’s (suitably qualified ecologists). We have provided assessments on a wide variety of developments, from affordable housing to new industrial buildings and residential homes.
Each survey we conduct will include a site visit and a report to suit the development’s needs. This looks at where and how features of ecological value can be protected and retained and how the site can be enhanced for ecology after the development.
Our reporting style has been carefully developed to provide comprehensive but straightforward information to the client. Our report fulfils the specific requirements of each assessment process, together with a clear summary of the credits awardable plus recommendations on how to increase the credit score. We can also provide five year management plans to ensure the measures implemented are sustained over the longer term.
We can also work closely with architects and landscape designers to advise on suitable planting to gain credits and provide draft landscape plans designed to maximise both credits and wildlife benefits. By consulting with us at an early stage we can give you the widest possible scope for obtaining credits
Developers and planners are increasingly aware of the benefits of incorporating biodiversity at the very start of any project. By involving Green Ecology at the masterplanning stage, major hurdles relating to environmental ecology can be avoided, reducing the potential for significant costs and delays whilst incorporating enhancements to maximise credits from BREEAM schemes.
We can also provide a wildlife friendly landscape design service, incorporating features, plants and habitats in sympathy with the development requirements but capable of maximising biodiversity benefits in the context of local ecology. We can provide advice not only on landscape design but also on incorporating wildlife into new buildings.
Green Ecology staff are happy to provide free telephone advice – call us on 01626 834422. You can also download our advice notes below:
Making buildings bird friendly
Making buildings bat friendly
We can also provide detailed management plans to guide the long term management of both conservation and development sites.
One of our ecologists has recently received Forest Gardening training from the Agroforestry Research Trust and we are keen to develop our involvement in this field. A forest garden is a designed agronomic system based on trees, shrubs and perennial plants. These are mixed in such a way as to mimic the structure of a natural forest - the most stable and sustainable type of ecosystem in this climate. They are designed to be sustainable, productive and low maintenance and are also extremely good for wildlife.
The crops which are produced can include fruits, nuts, edible leaves, spices, medicinal plant products, poles, fibres for tying, basketry materials, honey, fuelwood, fodder, mulches, game and sap products.
We believe that forest gardens are the perfect landscaping schemes for sustainable housing developments, providing community food and other resources as well as wildlife habitat.
We can work with architects and landscape designers to provide input on the design and planting of forest gardens. For more information on forest gardens CLICK HERE