Cherryfield Ecology

Cherryfield Ecology Cherryfield Ecology aims to provide you with comprehensive ecology surveys for your planning application. Offering bat surveys, reptile, NEPS Licences.

Our Story
CHERRYFIELD ECOLOGY·
We specialize in ecology surveys, for private and commercial planning applications. Established in 2015, following the opportunity to go it alone coming up, Cherryfield Ecology has gone from strength to strength. We have done work for private individuals, larger companies and major infrastructure clients. In 2018 Cherryfield Ecology took on it’s first employee and ha

s expended since. If you are looking for a cost effective bat surveys, newt surveys or barn owl surveys, get in touch today. Services include bat surveys, newt surveys, barn owl surveys, badger surveys and dormouse. We specialize in ecology surveys, for private and commercial planning applications,.

💧 Chalk Streams: The Crystal-Clear Arteries of the UKWhy these rare rivers need careful, active managementChalk streams ...
03/06/2026

💧 Chalk Streams: The Crystal-Clear Arteries of the UK
Why these rare rivers need careful, active management
Chalk streams are some of the rarest freshwater ecosystems on Earth — around 85% of the world’s total are found right here in England. Fed by chalk aquifers, they run cold, clear, and mineral-rich, creating a uniquely stable environment for an extraordinary range of wildlife.
But these rivers are fragile. Without thoughtful management, they quickly suffer from abstraction, pollution, siltation, and habitat loss.
Here’s how good stewardship keeps chalk streams alive:
💦 Restoring Natural Flow
• Reducing groundwater abstraction helps maintain the steady, spring-fed flows chalk streams depend on.
• Reconnecting meanders and removing obsolete weirs restores natural hydrology and improves habitat complexity.
🌿 Managing Riparian Vegetation
• Light coppicing and selective shading prevent overheating while keeping banks stable.
• Healthy marginal vegetation supports water voles, damselflies, and spawning habitat for brown trout.
🪨 Gravel Cleaning & Silt Control
• Removing excess silt and restoring clean gravel beds is vital for trout redds, lamprey, and countless invertebrates.
• Buffer strips and low-intensity farming reduce runoff and nutrient loading.
🐟 Habitat Enhancement
• Installing woody debris, flow deflectors, and varied channel features creates refuge for fish and boosts invertebrate diversity.
• Protecting side channels and backwaters supports juvenile fish and amphibians.
🚱 Tackling Pollution
• Upgrading sewage infrastructure and reducing storm overflows protects water quality.
• Community monitoring and citizen science help detect issues early.

🌍 Why it matters
Chalk streams are living time capsules — ecosystems shaped over millennia, yet vulnerable to the pressures of a single human lifetime. When we restore them, we’re not just helping wildlife; we’re safeguarding drinking water, cultural heritage, and some of the most beautiful landscapes in Britain. Need help managing your land for wildlife, contact us here - https://www.cherryfieldecology.co.uk/

Coppicing is one of the oldest woodland management traditions in the UK, and it remains vital for biodiversity today. By...
29/05/2026

Coppicing is one of the oldest woodland management traditions in the UK, and it remains vital for biodiversity today. By cutting trees at the base and allowing them to regrow, we create a cycle of habitats that benefit both wildlife and the woodland itself.

🌳 Coppicing: an ancient practice with modern benefits. By cutting and regrowing trees, UK woodlands stay healthy, diverse, and full of life.
✂️ What is Coppicing?
• Trees such as hazel, ash, and willow are cut at the base every 7–20 years.
• Instead of dying, they sprout multiple new stems, creating a renewable source of timber and poles.
🦋 Wildlife Benefits
• Light gaps: Opening the canopy lets sunlight reach the woodland floor, encouraging wildflowers like bluebells, primroses, and orchids.
• Insects thrive: Butterflies (e.g., pearl-bordered fritillary) and bees benefit from nectar-rich plants in freshly cut areas.
• Birds and mammals: Nightingales, warblers, and dormice use the dense regrowth for nesting and shelter.
• Variety of habitats: Rotational cutting creates a patchwork of young growth, mature trees, and open glades, supporting a wide range of species.
🌱 Woodland Benefits
• Promotes healthy regeneration and prolongs the life of trees.
• Provides sustainable timber without clear-felling.
• Prevents woodlands from becoming dark, uniform, and species-poor.
• Maintains traditional landscapes and cultural heritage.
Coppicing is more than cutting trees—it’s a cycle of renewal. By managing woodlands this way, we keep them vibrant, diverse, and full of wildlife for generations to come.
Need help managing your land for wildlife? Need a habitat management plan contact us today - https://cherryfieldecology.co.uk/

29/05/2026

🦡 Badgers & Development in the UK 🏗️🌿

As development expands across the UK, one species often caught in the middle is the Eurasian badger. Their setts—some used for generations—are legally protected, and understanding how development interacts with badger ecology is essential for responsible planning.

What people should know:

🏡 Setts are protected: It’s illegal to damage, obstruct, or disturb an active badger sett without a licence. This includes construction, vegetation clearance, and heavy machinery nearby.

🗺️ Badgers have long-term territories: Social groups rely on networks of setts, foraging routes, and latrines. Even “minor” habitat loss can fragment these territories.

🛠️ Mitigation is mandatory: Developers must survey, map sett use, and design mitigation—such as exclusion under licence, artificial setts, retained corridors, and sensitive timing of works.

🌙 Activity peaks at night: Works near setts often require restricted hours to avoid disturbance during emergence and foraging.

🌱 Good design helps wildlife: Green corridors, hedgerow retention, underpasses, and connected habitats reduce impacts and support long-term badger populations.

👉 Responsible development isn’t about stopping progress—it’s about ensuring wildlife has a place within it.
Badgers have lived in our landscapes for thousands of years. With thoughtful planning, they can remain part of it for thousands more.

Need help with a badger sett and planning get in touch

www.cherryfeildecology.co.uk

🌿 Biodiversity Net Gain: — How’s It Really Going?Two years and a bit since Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) became mandatory ...
20/05/2026

🌿 Biodiversity Net Gain: — How’s It Really Going?
Two years and a bit since Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) became mandatory in England, we’re starting to see the shape of this new conservation landscape. There’s real momentum, real challenges, and real lessons emerging.
🌱 What’s Working Well
• A growing market for habitat creation — BNG has sparked a surge in off‑site habitat banks and private investment in nature recovery, helping link development with tangible ecological gains.
• Clearer expectations for developers — The requirement for a measurable 10% net gain has embedded biodiversity into the planning system in a way we’ve never seen before.
• Better long‑term thinking — 30‑year management commitments are pushing projects beyond short-term mitigation and into genuine habitat enhancement.
🐛 Where the Struggles Are
• Local authority capacity — Many LPAs still lack the ecological expertise and resources to monitor, enforce, and track delivery.
• Loopholes and exemptions — Some developments continue to slip through the net, limiting the policy’s overall impact.
• On‑site vs off‑site imbalance — Most gains are still projected on development sites, which may not always deliver the best outcomes for landscape‑scale recovery.
🌍 What Needs to Happen Next
• Stronger monitoring and enforcement to ensure promised gains are actually delivered.
• More ambition at local level, aligning BNG with Local Nature Recovery Strategies.
• Closing loopholes so BNG applies consistently and fairly across the planning system.
• Scaling up ecological skills across planning authorities and consultancies.
🌼 The Big Picture
BNG isn’t perfect—but it is a major shift in how England approaches development and nature. Two years in, the foundations are there. The next step is making sure the system is robust enough to deliver the thriving habitats our landscapes desperately need.
Need help with BNG for a development site? Get in touch here - https://cherryfieldecology.co.uk/

🌊 River Habitat Management: It’s More Than Just the WaterHealthy rivers don’t start at the water’s edge — they’re shaped...
15/05/2026

🌊 River Habitat Management: It’s More Than Just the Water
Healthy rivers don’t start at the water’s edge — they’re shaped by everything happening on the bank and in the 10‑metre buffer beyond it. When we manage this whole corridor well, we create cleaner water, richer wildlife, and more resilient landscapes.
🏞️ Why the River Corridor Matters
The river, its banks, and the land immediately beyond form a single, connected ecosystem. What happens in that 10‑metre zone affects:
• Water quality
• Erosion and sediment levels
• Shade and temperature
• Invertebrate communities
• Fish spawning habitat
• Movement routes for mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians
🌿 Good Management on the Bank
• Keep roots in the ground — vegetation stabilises banks and reduces erosion
• Maintain a mix of grasses, sedges, scrub, and trees for structure
• Allow overhanging vegetation to provide shade and cover for fish
• Retain woody debris where safe — it slows flow, traps sediment, and boosts invertebrates
• Avoid hard engineering unless essential; natural processes do the best work
🌾 The 10‑Metre Buffer: A Wildlife Lifeline
This zone is crucial for both river health and terrestrial biodiversity.
• Acts as a filter strip, trapping nutrients and pollutants before they reach the water
• Provides foraging and nesting habitat for birds, bats, otters, water voles, and insects
• Supports pollinator corridors along the river
• Offers refuge during high flows and floods
• Allows space for natural river movement, reducing long‑term maintenance needs
🌼 The Takeaway
A thriving river isn’t just about what flows between the banks — it’s about the entire corridor that feeds, shades, filters, and protects it. Manage the bank and the 10‑metre buffer well, and the whole ecosystem responds, need more info on managing your land for wildlife, contact us here - https://cherryfieldecology.co.uk/

06/05/2026

The light fades. The air cools. And just like that — a tiny silhouette dances across the sky.

🦇 Bat survey season has officially begun in the UK.

For the next few months, we’ll be listening in on the hidden world above our heads: pipistrelles whispering through hedgerows, noctules booming over fields, long‑eared bats drifting like ghosts through woodland edges.

Whether you’re a seasoned surveyor or joining for the first time, welcome back to the night shift.

need help with a bat survey for planning? get in touch www.cherryfieldecology.co.uk

🌿 Lowland Heath: One of the UK’s Rarest Wild LandscapesWhy management matters more than everLowland heath might look wil...
01/05/2026

🌿 Lowland Heath: One of the UK’s Rarest Wild Landscapes
Why management matters more than ever
Lowland heath might look wild and untouched, but it’s actually a cultural landscape—shaped by centuries by grazing, cutting, and burning. Without active management, this globally rare habitat quickly disappears under a tide of scrub, bracken, and invasive species.
Here’s how good heathland management keeps these ecosystems alive:

🔥 Controlled Burning & Cutting (when possible)
• Small, carefully planned burns or mechanical cutting create a mosaic of heather ages.
• This benefits species like nightjar, Dartford warbler, and silver-studded blue butterflies, all of which rely on varied structure.
🐑 Grazing
• Traditional grazing by hardy breeds keeps gorse and birch in check.
• Light, year‑round grazing helps maintain open ground for reptiles such as adder, common lizard, and smooth snake.

🌱 Scrub Control
• Removing young birch, pine, and rhododendron prevents the heath from turning into woodland.
• This protects specialist plants like cross‑leaved heath, sundews, and bog asphodel.

💧 Restoring Wet Heath
• Blocking old drains and re‑wetting peat helps Sphagnum mosses return.
• Wet heath is vital for dragonflies, damselflies, and rare species like marsh gentian.

🐜 Bare Ground Creation
• Small patches of exposed sandy soil support solitary bees, wasps, and wood ants, and help pioneer plants regenerate.

🌾 Why it matters
Lowland heath is now rarer than rainforest, with the UK holding a huge proportion of the world’s remaining habitat. Every patch we restore or protect is a lifeline for species that exist nowhere else. Need help managing your land for wildlife contact us here https://cherryfieldecology.co.uk/

Happy St George’s Day!Today we celebrate the timeless legend of St George and the dragon — a story that has captured ima...
23/04/2026

Happy St George’s Day!

Today we celebrate the timeless legend of St George and the dragon — a story that has captured imaginations for centuries. According to the tale, a fearsome dragon terrorised a kingdom, demanding sacrifices until St George arrived, stood his ground, and defeated the beast to save the people.

It’s a story of courage, compassion, and standing up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. No wonder it has endured so powerfully through English folklore.
And of course, no symbol feels more fitting today than the red rose — England’s national flower.

Long associated with bravery, love, and the spirit of the nation, the red rose became a powerful emblem during the Wars of the Roses and has remained a proud marker of English identity ever since. On St George’s Day, you’ll often see it worn or displayed as a quiet nod to heritage, resilience, and unity.

What’s wonderful is how St George’s Day is growing in popularity again. More communities are rediscovering the legend, sharing the story with new generations, and celebrating the values it represents.

Whether you’re enjoying a local event or simply taking a moment to appreciate the myth and its message, today is a chance to honour one of England’s most iconic tales — and the symbols that have come to represent it.

Happy St George’s Day

🦎🌞 Reptile Survey Season Begins — Warmer Days, More Movement!With temperatures finally creeping up and the sun making a ...
15/04/2026

🦎🌞 Reptile Survey Season Begins — Warmer Days, More Movement!
With temperatures finally creeping up and the sun making a more regular appearance, the UK’s native reptiles are shaking off their winter torpor and becoming active again. That means one thing… survey season is officially underway.
🌡️ Why Now?
Early spring brings:
• Rising ground temperatures that help reptiles thermoregulate after months of reduced activity
• Sunny, sheltered microhabitats perfect for basking
• Predictable movement patterns, making this the ideal window for surveyors to record presence and distribution
🐍 What to Expect in the Field
• Slow worms and common lizards basking on south‑facing edges and tussocky grass
• Grass snakes using early warmth to hunt amphibians around ponds
• Adders emerging to bask before mating season kicks off
• Higher detectability on calm, bright mornings when reptiles are warming up but not yet fully active
🔍 Why This Season Matters
Spring surveys help build an accurate picture of:
• Population health
• Habitat use
• Potential impacts from development
• Opportunities for habitat enhancement and conservation
🌿 A Reminder for Everyone Outdoors
If you’re out enjoying the sunshine, keep an eye out for basking reptiles — and give them space. These early-season moments are crucial for their survival after winter.
Need help with a reptile survey for your development, contact us here - https://cherryfieldecology.co.uk/

🌼🌱 UK Spring Plants: By May, Nature Hits Its PeakAs the days lengthen and the light strengthens, the UK’s plant life sur...
10/04/2026

🌼🌱 UK Spring Plants: By May, Nature Hits Its Peak
As the days lengthen and the light strengthens, the UK’s plant life surges into action. Spring starts quietly in February and March — but by the time May arrives, most species are in their absolute prime, bursting with fresh growth, flowers, and the first signs of fruiting.
🌿 Early Spring: The First Wave
February–April brings the pioneers:
• Snowdrops, celandines, primroses lighting up woodland edges
• Blackthorn blossom frothing in hedgerows
• Dog’s mercury, bluebells, wood anemones carpeting ancient woods
These early species take advantage of open canopies before the trees leaf out.
🌸 By May: Peak Spring
This is when the plant world goes full throttle:
• Hawthorn (“May blossom”) fills hedgerows with scent
• Cow parsley froths along lanes and footpaths
• Orchids like early purple and green‑winged orchids reach their best
• Meadows shift from green to a tapestry of buttercups, vetches, clovers, and emerging grasses
Everything is photosynthesising at maximum power, and the landscape feels alive.
🌾 What Comes Next
As spring tips into early summer:
• Flowers give way to seed heads, pods, and early fruits
• Grasses begin to flower and set seed, feeding insects and birds
• Hedgerow species like hawthorn, blackthorn, and wild cherry start forming berries
• Meadows transition from lush growth to hay meadow maturity
This shift from flowering to fruiting is the engine that drives the rest of the year’s ecology.
🌍 Why This Matters
Spring’s plant boom underpins:
• Pollinator activity
• Nesting bird success
• Invertebrate abundance
• Mammal foraging
• The entire summer food web
By May, the UK countryside is at its most vibrant, almost impossible to beat anywhere in the world on a bright sunny day!!!! — a reminder of how much life depends on healthy, diverse plant communities.
Need help with an ecology survey for your planning or development? contact us here - https://cherryfieldecology.co.uk/

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