BRCC has an in house ecologist who can undertake a wide range of wildlife surveys from amphibians to plants, bats and other mammals and invertebrates; we can undertake vegetation surveys and write management plans, create interpretation panels and write leaflets. Our experience has been built over 10 years of undertaking ecological work throughout Bedfordshire and the surrounding counties. Examples of work we have done in the past include Phase 1 studies, protected species scoping surveys, bat surveys of bridges, management plans for local community sites, large parks and nature reserves, advising on wildflower meadow creation and pond creation.

Recent examples of our work include surveying Biggleswade Allotments Meadow (which we advised on the creation of in 2003) to establish its fitness for recognition as a County Wildlife Site. The site easily fits the criteria and is awaiting approval from the County Wildlife Site Panel later in the year. Another recent example is the creation of wildlife spotters leaflets for Castle Close Sharnbrook giving some examples of plants and mini-beasts found there and tips on how to identify them.

So if you have a bit of land and wonder what the wildlife interest might be, or need a protected species survey done prior to doing some work or if you just want a little bit of advice as to how to best manage your pond or encourage bats then why not get in touch and see if we can help?

Funded by GrantScape and in partnership with the Greensand Trust we are working with a range of Bedfordshire communities to preserve, plant and enhance a number of orchards around the county and to survey, create and restore a number of ponds.

These exciting projects will build on some of the work that has already been done such as planting orchards in Biggleswade and Great Billington and “rescuing” the ancient trees at Stratton Moat. New orchards will be planted in Colmworth and Odell using local Bedfordshire varieties and rescued ancient trees grafted by local experts. There will be training courses run on planting, formative pruning, wildlife surveying and harvesting.

There will be new ponds created in Sandy and Stotfold and several ponds will be enhanced throughout the county. Training will be given on pond creation and surveying. These two projects should leave a lasting legacy of improved habitats, new ponds and orchards, greater knowledge and understanding and rekindled enthusiasm for these wonderful habitats.

BRCC used to run the Bedfordshire Otters and Rivers Project (BORP). 

It is also a member of Bedslife, The Bedfordshire & Luton Biodiversity Partnership, and supporters of the Biodiversity Recording and Monitoring Centre (BRMC), which holds data on all aspects of Biodiversity in Bedfordshire. For even more information about Wildlife in Bedfordshire why not visit the Bedfordshire Natural History Society (BNHS) website.