Our built environment has the potential to have major negative impacts on our local biodiversity, however if done sensitively the development and refurbishment of buildings can, in fact, increase the ecological value of the site. This often includes undertaking an ecological survey, but also includes incorporating measures to enhance the finished building or project to encourage wildlife that has adapted to live alongside us in buildings, such as swallows, swifts, barn owls, bats etc.
Nurture Ecology is able to advise and work with developers and architects to ensure that buildings are created to be more sustainable and include features that enhance the completed structure for wildlife. These measures of ‘designing for biodiversity’ will not compromise the integrity of the building, and will ensure that the specification of the building complies with all Building and Planning regulations.
Features such as green roofs, ‘living’ external walls, integration of features and roosts for birds and bats, habitat creation, sustainable drainage systems etc. are all measures that can, and in our opinion, should, be incorporated into new developments wherever possible. These measures will ensure that the real need for low / zero carbon and airtight buildings can be achieved, but at the same time include and accommodate species associated with our built environment.
These measures will also ensure that new buildings or renovations comply with a number of Island Plan objectives and policies, which can help go towards gaining Planning Permission to allow a building project to go ahead.
These measures can also go towards credits for buildings aiming to achieve sustainable accreditation for schemes such as BREEAM. Nurture Ecology are an approved agency to undertake the Land use and Ecology assessment for BREEAM, and we can also provide a fully qualified Ecological Clerk of Works for larger building projects.
Other Services
Land Management
Farm Biodiversity
Research
Education & Events
Countryside Enhancement Scheme