Ecological Services
Bosky Trees provides detailed and technical advice to manage veteran trees and associated habitats. This service includes carrying out desk studies, field surveys and producing reports.
Ancient woodland, wood-pasture, and veteran trees are given special protection in the UK. Bosky Trees has over 10 years experience providing management advice relating to old trees and their associated habitats.
Bosky Trees provides the following ecological services:
- Veteran tree surveys
- Surveys of Parkland and Wood-Pasture
- Hedgerow surveys
- Trees and bats
- Woodland ecology surveys
- National Vegetation Classification (NVC) Surveys
- Fallen dead wood volume estimates
- Ecological Site Classification (ESC) and native woodland planting schemes
1) Veteran tree surveys
Veteran trees provide an abundance of specialist habitats for insects, plants, and animal species. Veteran trees are also particularly vulnerable to environmental stresses and insensitive tree surgery. Our surveyors have an extensive case history of carrying out veteran tree surveys and producing detailed management plans for individual trees and large populations of veteran trees. We can provide advice and training to land managers and tree surgeons which will ensure the best care is provided for these special trees.
2) Surveys of Parkland and Wood-Pastures
Lowland wood-pastures and parklands derived from medieval forests and emparkments, wooded commons, parks and pastures with trees in them. Some subsequently had a designed landscape superimposed in the 16th to 19th centuries. A range of native species usually predominates amongst the old trees but there may also be non-native species which have been planted or regenerated naturally. Parkland and wood-pasture is a priority habitat for conservation under the UKBAP and many of the larger areas of wood-pasture and parkland are designated nature conservation sites due to their significance for invertebrates, lichens and other dependent wildlife. Our surveyors are extensively experienced in surveying sites such as these and producing long-term management plans.
3) Hedgerow surveys
Certain hedgerows are protected under the Hedgerow Regulations 1997 and so surveys are often required to identify if particular hedgerows qualify as ‘important’ (and so protected) under the Regulations. We are able to provide surveys and management plans for hedgerows.
4) Trees and bats
All species of bats are protected in the UK and so it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb a bat at roost. This can have implications for the timing, extent, or method of tree management operations. Certain tree features are often used by bats and our surveyors are suitably trained to identify them and recommend appropriate action. Early identification of bat occupation in trees can save projects time and money.
5) Woodland ecology surveys
Woodland biodiversity is a valued component of sustainable forests, contributing to the ecological functioning and health of woodland ecosystems, and providing interest and enjoyment for visitors. Different regions in the UK have distinct plant and animal communities. We provide detailed surveys of the ecology of woodlands and the findings are appraised with consideration to their geographical location and context.
6) National Vegetation Classification (NVC) Surveys
This is a method for habitat survey, based on the National Vegetation Classification (NVC) system. Habitats are classified according to environmental features and (in particular) a census of the full plant community that each supports. Our surveys include plant identification and estimates of the abundance of each species; on the basis of this information the vegetation can be matched against numerous standard plant communities and sub-communities.
7) Fallen dead wood volume estimates
It is now widely accepted that large quantities of standing and fallen dead wood are a key element in woodland ecosystems. In managed landscapes, however, potential deadwood volumes (standing or lying on the ground) are reduced by felling and extraction of timber, collection for fuel, and tidiness. This impairs biodiversity and can affect some aspects of ecosystem health. Bosky Trees can provide estimates of levels of dead wood using standard survey techniques so that site condition can be evaluated with respect to the conservation of dead wood habitats. This can inform management plans and act as a baseline for future monitoring of dead wood levels so that the effectiveness of management policy may be assessed.
8) Ecological Site Classification (ESC) and native woodland planting schemes
Ecological Site Classification is a system designed by Forest Research to help guide forest managers and planners to select ecologically suited species to sites, instead of selecting a species and trying to modify the site to suit. ESC uses key site factors including grid reference, elevation, soil type, nutrient status, and soil water availability to select suitable species for planting based on the ecological requirements of different tree species and woodland communities, as defined in the National Vegetation Classification (NVC) for Great Britain.
If you'd like to make an enquiry - you can either email us at info@boskytrees.co.uk or call us on 01179 550 130.
Bosky Trees, 76 Sevier Street, Bristol, BS2 9RA.