Good practice for each species

1. Good practice for each species

2. Bats - factors to consider • National distribution • Summer (maternity) roosts • Winter (hibernation) roosts • Utilise trees, buildings and underground structures • Woodland types used • How to survey • Woodland design (e.g. roost isolation, foraging areas)

3. Bats - potential & confirmed roosts Potential roost: A habitat feature that the surveyor has identified that could offer opportunities for roosting bats. If only a few potential roosts were identified in the wood, they should not be felled and buffer trees left around them. Confirmed roost: Bats are known to be (or have been) entering/exiting this structure. It therefore has legal protection and should be retained undisturbed, with an appropriate buffer of trees.

4. Bats - good practice • Ensure protection of confirmed roosts and their buffer. • Where there are few potential roosts, treat as above. Where numerous, a small proportion can be felled in 10yr period. • Natural reserves/undisturbed areas. • Encourage insect-rich habitat (understorey, rides, ponds). • Avoid disturbance of roosts by fire/smoke or excessive noise and vibration. • Creation / maintenance of infrastructure.

5. Otters - factors to consider • National distribution • Catchments & range • Holts • Woodland types used • How to survey • Foraging area / quality

6. Otters - good practice • Identify and protect likely holt sites. Avoid mechanised activities within 50m of such resting places. • Riparian corridors - within 50m of a watercourse consider the risks of disturbing otters. Phase felling/thinning operations in this corridor over several years to reduce disturbance. • Extraction & stacking - where possible, away from riparian corridor. • Site preparation - brash treatment & fencing. • Sediment run-off. • Other possible disturbance - recreation or livestock. • Infrastructure.

7. Dormice - factors to consider • National distribution • Summer & winter nests • Woodland types used • How to survey

8. Dormice - good practice • Avoid woodland management in favourable dormouse habitat from June to mid-August. • Clearfell - up to 1/3 of dormouse habitat in the wood, leaving remaining areas undisturbed for 5+yrs. • Thinning - up to 2/3 of dormouse habitat in the wood, leaving remaining areas undisturbed for several yrs. • Coppice -Up to 25% of habitat in one year. • Felling/extraction methods. • Site preparation. • Mowing, swiping, flailing & scrub cutting. • Creation / maintenance of infrastructure.

9. Great Crested Newts - factors to consider Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Hibernation on land Breeding in ponds Forage on land Hibernation on land • National distribution • Challenges of survey • Breeding ponds • Terrestrial habitats • Woodland types used • Challenges of survey

10. Great Crested Newts - good practice • Within 100m of a breeding pond, phases any significant operations such that only 25% of area is disturbed in any one yr. • Try to avoid stacking within 100m of pond. • Extraction methods. • Site preparation. • Mowing regimes. • Creation / maintenance of infrastructure.

11. Sand Lizard & Smooth Snake - factors to consider Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Hibernation Active Hibernation Sand lizard egg incubation • National distribution • Sand lizard foci / behaviour • Smooth snake behaviour • Woodland types used • How to survey

12. Sand Lizard & Smooth Snake - good practice • Identify and protect foci • Avoid felling, extraction and stacking within 30m of foci • Site preparation - brash treatment, spraying and planting • Mowing & swiping • Other disturbance - including grazing or livestock grazing • Creation / maintenance of infrastructure • Conservation works.