REPTILE SURVEYS
There are six species of reptile which are native to the United Kingdom. The adder, grass snake, common lizard and slow worm are the more common species which are a consideration in planning and development projects. These species receive protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in respect of deliberate, intentional or reckless killing and injuring.
All six species have been scheduled under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, a project that lists the species and habitats requiring conservation action, ensuring actions are prioritised to conserve them and their habitat.
Less common species of reptile which are also native to the UK are the sand lizard and smooth snake, these two species have a much more specialist habitat requirements and so a more restricted range. They are European Protected Species, protected under the Habitat Regulations 1994.
If your intended development site has some scrub/rough grassland, woodland edge, heath or coastal habitat, an assessment visit could tell you the likely presence of reptiles and the impact of your proposed activities. This would then indicate whether a further survey of your site to confirm presence or absence of the reptiles is actually justified.
If there was considered a significant risk of impact, then a presence/absence survey could be carried out for you in accordance with industry standard guidelines (produced by Natural England and Frog life).
