Renewables

The importance of renewable energy has never been higher and the number of renewable energy sites in Britain is growing each year. The responsible ecological management of these sites offers an exciting opportunity within the industry to provide a biodiversity net gain for these installations as well as meeting planning application requirements.

At Wildbanks Conservation we are at the forefront of collaborative working with solar farm managers and energy companies to deliver their required ecological enhancement, maintenance and monitoring schedules. Our UK team of skilled specialists and ecologists will ensure your assets are managed to the highest standards following best practice and ensuring asset performance.

From pre construction ecological surveys to writing and delivering Biodiversity Management Plans, Wildbanks Conservation can deliver all your ecological requirements. We can apply and deliver protected species Mitigation Licenses (Natural England and Natural Resources Wales)

Being practical people and respected ecological consultants enables us to design effective mitigation projects that are cost effective but provide the most ecological gain and meet your legal and planning requirements.

Some of the projects we can assist with

"Mick and his team have been excellent to work with, I cant fault their professionalism and enthusiasm, thank you for your hard work"
Rebecca Sambrook, Director, Sambrook Associates Ltd

Case Study - Wrexham Solar Farm, Wrexham Industrial Estate

Wildbanks Conservation won the contract to deliver the landscaping and GCN mitigation measures on an 11ha Solar Farm within Wrexham Industrial Estate owned by Innova Energy in November 2019. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic works were not able to commence until September 2020.

Works were carried out successfully under a watching brief from the appointed ecologists and an Unexploded Ordnance Specialist due to the Sites previous use as an ammunitions store during World War Two as well as following GS6 provision installed by BSR O&M.

Mitigation works principally concerned great crested newts (Tritaurus cristatus). Two new ponds were to be dug and lined with Bentonite Geosynthetic Clay Liner and an existing pond cleared of some of its vegetation. One way temporary amphibian fencing had to be erected around the existing pond and the areas where the new ponds would be created (750m).

540 new trees have been planted to provide small copses along the southern boundary providing beneficial GCN habitat.

The Site has also been compartmentalised with stock fencing so that the grassland can be managed effectively and livestock has been excluded from the pond areas to allow the ponds to develop and create further valuable GCN habitat.

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