Malswick Canal Restoration – PEA, Surveys for Otters, Water Voles, GCN, Reptiles, Bats & Badgers, CEMP & LEMP

W      ild Service was commissioned by Herefordshire &     Gloucestershire Canal Trust to undertake a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) to inform plans to reinstate a section of canal in Malswick, Gloucestershire. Following the PEA survey, which confirmed presence of several badger setts near the canal, and habitats likely to support several protected species, further protected species surveys were undertaken including reptile surveys and translocations into retained habitat, bat emergence/re-entry surveys of trees affected by proposed works, water vole and otter presence/absence surveys, and great crested newt habitat suitability assessments of nearby waterbodies. Working closely with the client, and the local planning authority (Forest of Dean District Council), we produced a Construction Ecological Management Plan (CEMP) and provided ecological input into a Landscape and Ecology Management (LEMP) plan to provide mitigation and enhancement advice relevant to the project with consideration of the requirements of local wildlife and the client. In addition, Wild Service Ecologists acted as ECoW on several aspects of this project working alongside the Canal Trust volunteers, and also provided training and resources to the canal volunteers who undertook the majority of the canal restoration works.