Pell Frischmann’s Ecology Team Completes Tree Climbing Course
Pell Frischmann’s Ecology Team recently completed a Tree Climbing and Aerial Rescue course from City & Guilds, further adding to our specialist services when delivering ecological surveys. This qualification enables the team to provide faster, more efficient ways of establishing ecological constraints associated with a scheme.
We now have qualified surveyors who, using rope access, can safely climb and survey tree features with options for supporting protected species such as bats.
Ecological features on trees
Initial ecology surveys often identify trees with features of ecological interest – for example, woodpecker holes, split limbs, and cavities. While every effort is made to survey these features from the ground for health and safety reasons, this is not always possible.
Typical recommendations
Tree features suitable for bats, if their size and depth cannot be established, result in recommendations for bat emergence surveys. These emergence surveys must be completed between May and September inclusive of weather conditions suitable for bat activity. The seasonal constraint can lead to project delays if survey windows are not met. Depending on the tree, multiple surveys are required to meet survey guidelines (three surveys for a tree with high bat potential).
How can climbing benefit my project?
Tree climbing brings two key benefits to a project:
- Tree climbing can be undertaken year-round, reducing delays to the project; and
- Can rule out features, potentially reducing the number of emergence surveys required.
The data gathered from tree climbing surveys will be added to project reports, informing the scheme design and mitigation measures accordingly.
“Having tree climbed for several years I have seen the benefits it can deliver to a project. We can be outside throughout the year rather than tied to the seasonal constraints that other ecology surveys require; by checking features in the tree, we can scope out trees that otherwise would have required several dusk visits to establish if bats were present in the tree.”
Jeff Grant, Principal Ecologist
The Ecology Team is here to help de-risk your projects from an early stage and can recommend the appropriate surveys to undertake at a site and when these can be done. Early engagement is encouraged to avoid problems in the future.
