Badgers are frequently encountered on development sites so it is important that ecologists know how to survey for them, how to recognise their field signs and have a good understanding of their ecology.
Ecologists also need to have a clear understanding of the legislation and guidance relating to badgers and development, and to make sure we use appropriate mitigation techniques. When is a licence required? What type of licence is required? Will this activity result in disturbance of badgers in a sett? Is this an active sett? If these are questions that your have asked, then our badgers and development course is probably just what you are looking for.
Our badger course will be split into two days and you are welcome to come to just one of them, or both of them. You will need to bring a packed lunch on the first day, but lunch will be provided on the second day. If you book onto both course you will save yourself £25!
Day 1 - Badger Ecology and Survey Techniques
This course will be part classroom and part field based and will be taught by Sue Searle MIEEM. The course will cover urban and rural badger ecology and field signs, as well as looking at techniques used for surveying badgers. During the course we will take a visit to an extensive badger sett where you can practice identifying field signs and mapping a sett.
Day 2 - Badgers and Development
This course will be taught by Dr Sandie Sowler MIEEM and will be aimed at those who work with developers on sites with badgers and those ecologists working under infrastructure maintenance contracts. This day will be spent in the classroom, and will cover the following topics:
Badgers and the law
Badger issues in development projects
Types of licences (for development and in response to property damage)
Mitigation techniques for both licence types
Case studies of badger projects
Feedback from our recent 2-day badgers course was very positive:
' A fun and informative course, providing a sound basis for future badger work'
'I now feel capable of conducting a detailed badger survey and have a much greater understanding of the type of mitigation that is likely to be appropriate.'
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