For each protected species group, a series of stand alone courses cover survey techniques, impact assessment and mitigation. These courses can be taken on their own or in combination to develop your professional skills (and where appropriate your ability to apply for a licence). Courses on impact assessment and mitigation assume a basic understanding of ecology and survey techniques; courses on mitigation assume a basic understanding of impact assessment. For further details on each course click on the appropriate hyperlinks.

Bats

The bat courses have been designed as individual one-day courses, which together provide a detailed training in a range of areas including: bat biology, survey techniques (including a practical guide to using bat detectors) and legislation (Bats I); investigating, analysing and evaluating bat activity (Bats II); investigating and evaluating bat roosts (Bats III); and impact assessment and mitigation (Bats IV). The first three courses will comprise a fieldwork component, while the fourth course will be illustrated with numerous relevant case studies. 

Badgers

The badger courses have been designed as separate one-day courses, which together offer a comprehensive training covering a range of topics comprising: badger biology and social organisation, and its applications to planning and undertaking badger surveys (Badgers I); relevant legislation and the types of impacts that linear development projects can cause to badgers and their territorial resources, and how these impacts can be mitigated for (Badgers II); and monitoring and mitigation of badger setts in the context of development projects (including artificial sett construction) (Badgers III).  These courses will comprise fieldwork elements and will also be illustrated by case studies.

Dormice

The dormouse courses have been planed as individual one-day courses, which together provide participants with a comprehensive knowledge of: dormouse biology, survey methodologies (including handling practice) and habitat assessment (Dormice I); and the legislative protection offered to dormice, impact assessment and mitigation (Dormice II).  These courses will include fieldwork elements and will also be illustrated by case studies.

Otters

The otter courses have been designed as separate one-day courses, which together provide a comprehensive knowledge of: otter biology, survey methodologies and habitat assessment (Otters I); and the legislative protection offered to otters, impact assessment and mitigation (Otters II).  These courses will contain fieldwork elements and will also be illustrated by case studies.

Water voles

The water vole courses have been constructed as stand-alone one-day courses, which collectively provide an in depth training in the following areas: water vole biology, survey methodologies and habitat assessment (Water voles I); the legislative protection offered to water voles, impact assessment and mitigation (Water voles II); and the techniques for trapping, handling, marking and soft-release of water voles, along with the necessary legislation and licensing requirements for these processes (Water voles III).  These courses will comprise fieldwork elements and will also be illustrated by case studies.

New BAP mammals

This one-day workshop looks at the ecology of mammal species recently added to the UK BAP list, how survey methodologies may be standardised for these species, how development projects may impact on these species, and possible mitigation strategies.  Further course details can be found by clicking on this link.

Scoping bird surveys for development projects

This two-day course on ornithological survey methodologies in the context of development projects covers: the legislative background for the protection of British birds; acquiring desk study and other sources of information; triggers for bird surveys; appropriate bird survey techniques and interpretation of survey results, with examples from case studies and field trips.  Further course details can be found by clicking on this link.

Great crested newts

The great crested newt courses have been designed as separate one-day courses, which together provide a comprehensive training in the following areas: an introduction to great crested newts and other British amphibians, with particular reference to appropriate survey methodologies and their legislative protection (Great crested newts I); and the types of impacts developments can cause to amphibian (particularly great crested newt) populations and how these impacts can be mitigated for (Great crested newts II).  These courses will comprise fieldwork elements and will also be illustrated by case studies.

Reptiles

The reptile courses have been designed as individual one-day courses, which together provide a detailed training in the following areas: an introduction to the more common British reptiles (slow-worms, common lizards, grass snakes and adders), with particular reference to appropriate survey methodologies and their legislative protection (Reptiles I); further survey techniques (photo-identification, and population estimates) for common British reptiles, impact assessment and mitigation (Reptiles II); and an introduction to smooth snakes and sand lizards, their ecology, legislative protection and appropriate survey methodologies (Reptiles III).  These courses will comprise fieldwork elements and will also be illustrated by case studies.

Crayfish

This two-day course provides information on the biology of native and introduced crayfish, their conservation status and legal status. It covers survey methodologies and habitat assessment for crayfish, and discusses (with case studies) the types of impacts development projects can cause to crayfish populations, and how these impacts can be mitigated for.  A field trip will demonstrate how to survey for crayfish (including correct handling techniques). 

Terrestrial invertebrates

This course provides background information on the biology and conservation status of British terrestrial invertebrates. It also covers survey methodologies and habitat assessment, and considers the types of impacts development projects can cause to terrestrial invertebrate populations, and how these impacts can be mitigated for. A field trip will demonstrate examples of survey techniques.