contractecology.co.uk

Contract Ecology installs wildlife exclusion fencing across the UK, including badger fencing, newt fencing, reptile fencing, otter fencing, water vole fencing and amphibian fencing. These are delivered as part of mitigation and enabling works on development projects, where a site needs to either keep protected species out of a work area or contain them safely within or away from it. If your project has a planning condition or a European Protected Species licence attached to it, this is the kind of contractor service that typically sits alongside your ecology survey and reporting.

The fencing types listed by Contract Ecology

The company describes itself as a leading installer of wildlife exclusion fencing and names the following categories:

Amphibian and reptile fencing, plus water vole and badger fencing, are also listed separately as installation services offered UK-wide.

What these fences are actually for

Exclusion fencing is a physical barrier used during development. Depending on the species and the site, it can be used to:

• Exclude animals from a construction footprint before groundworks begin.
• Contain animals within a retained or receptor area while works proceed elsewhere.
• Guide animals toward safe crossing points, refuges or translocation areas.
• Support a licence condition where a mitigation strategy requires a barrier to be installed and maintained for a set period.

This is why the fencing is described as part of mitigation and enabling works rather than as a standalone product. The fence only makes sense as one element of a wider ecological plan.

How it fits into a planning project

Contract Ecology positions its fencing work within the development process:

1. Survey and reporting — an ecology survey identifies which species are present or likely to be affected.
2. Mitigation design — a strategy is agreed, which may include exclusion fencing, habitat creation or translocation.
3. Enabling works — fencing is installed before or during site clearance so that works can proceed lawfully.
4. Implementation of compensation measures — the company states it can implement every recommended compensation measure, including under the strict conditions of a European Protected Species licence.

The company also states it will only recommend a mitigation strategy it is certain can be achieved — a useful signal if you are weighing up whether a proposed fencing scheme is realistic for your site.

Choosing a fencing contractor: what to check

Because exclusion fencing is tied to licence conditions, the practical questions matter more than the product name:

• Does the contractor hold the relevant licences and qualifications? Contract Ecology states its team holds the necessary qualifications and licences for ecological services, specialist surveys, consultancy and practical environmental groundworks.
• Can they cover your region? The company states it installs UK-wide.
• Do they understand the licence conditions, not just the installation? Fencing that fails to meet a licence specification can stall your planning consent, so the installer needs to work to the ecologist's or licence's requirements.
• Is fencing part of a broader mitigation package? If you also need habitat creation, land management or survey work, using one practice for both can reduce coordination problems.

When you might not need exclusion fencing

Not every project requires it. If your survey finds no protected species affected, or if the mitigation strategy relies on timing restrictions, buffer zones or habitat retention instead of a barrier, fencing may not be specified. The survey and the licence (if one is needed) determine this — fencing is a response to a specific finding, not a default requirement.

Getting a quote

Contract Ecology invites enquiries by phone on (0)1772 731 404 and through its contact page. If you approach them, it helps to have your survey report, the species involved and any licence conditions to hand, since these determine the fencing specification and the installation programme.

Call (0)1772 731 404 or use the contact link on contractecology.co.uk to reach Contract Ecology Ltd for a quote or advice. The company provides ecological consultancy, arboriculture and habitat services across the UK, so this route suits clients in any sector who need help with a planning concern, an ecology survey, wildlife exclusion fencing or habitat works.

Ways to Get in Touch

The site presents two direct routes, both listed under its "Need our services?" heading:

• Phone: (0)1772 731 404 — the number given in the site's own contact prompt for services and quotes.
• Website contact page: the "contact us" link in the same section, which is the place to send an enquiry or request a quote.

If your question is about a specific service, the site also offers "read more" pages for Ecology Surveys, Fencing Services and Habitat Services, which you can review before making contact.

What to Have Ready When You Call or Write

Contract Ecology works on projects at all phases of development, so a useful first enquiry usually covers:

• Your project type and location — services are delivered UK-wide, but site location affects scheduling and mobilisation.
• The planning issue or survey need — for example, a planning concern that requires an ecologist's input, or a specific survey requirement.
• Whether you need consultancy or practical works — the company covers both advice and groundworks, including mitigation enabling works, habitat creation and land management.
• Any fencing requirement — amphibian and reptile fencing, water vole fencing, badger fencing and otter fencing are all listed as installed UK-wide.

Who This Contact Route Is For

The company states it advises clients in all sectors on wildlife issues, and describes itself as an ecological contractor with over 17 years' experience in mitigation enabling works, habitat creation and land management. Its team holds qualifications and licences for specialist ecology and arboriculture surveys, consultancy and environmental groundworks.

One point worth knowing before you enquire: Contract Ecology says it will only recommend a mitigation strategy it is certain can be achieved, and it can implement recommended compensation measures — including under the strict conditions of a European Protected Species licence — to help secure planning consent. If your project depends on that kind of licence, say so early in the conversation.

Quick Reference

The site does not publish pricing, so a quote has to come from direct contact rather than from the website itself.

Contract Ecology Ltd is a UK ecological consultancy and contracting practice that combines ecology, arboriculture, and land management under one team. It is aimed at clients who need wildlife advice, protected species surveys, or practical mitigation work to move a development through planning. According to the company, it has over 17 years of experience and operates UK-wide.

What Contract Ecology does

The practice describes itself as "Ecological Contractors" providing mitigation enabling works, habitat creation, and land management operations. Its stated purpose is to help clients get developments off the ground while maintaining the environment and growing natural habitats.

Its work sits in two related areas:

• Consultancy and surveys – specialist ecology and arboriculture surveys, reporting, and advice on wildlife issues and planning concerns.
• Practical groundworks and contracting – installing mitigation measures and carrying out habitat works on site.

Services listed on the site

The company highlights wildlife exclusion fencing as a particular specialty, naming badger, newt, reptile, and otter fencing among the installations it provides across the UK.

Who it is for

Contract Ecology works with clients "in all sectors" and positions itself as part of a project team. The services are relevant if you:

• Need an ecology survey or a planning-related wildlife concern addressed.
• Need a mitigation contractor for protected species or habitat works.
• Need wildlife exclusion fencing installed as part of a development.

The company states it can help secure planning permission through its reporting and survey standards, and can implement recommended compensation measures, including under the conditions attached to a European Protected Species licence. It also states it will only recommend a mitigation strategy it is certain can be achieved.

Coverage and credentials

• Coverage: UK-wide for ecology and habitat services, and for fencing installation.
• Experience: Over 17 years, with the site also referencing "over 10 years of experience helping sustainable development flourish."
• Qualifications: The team states it holds the necessary qualifications and licences for its range of ecological services, with additional certification and practical training in countryside and landscape management.

Getting in touch

The site lists a contact number for services and quotes: (0)1772 731 404. No pricing is published on the page, so costs are quoted on request rather than listed.

An ecology survey is typically needed when a planning authority raises a wildlife or habitat concern, or when a development site could affect protected species or their habitats. Contract Ecology Ltd is a UK-wide ecological consultancy and contractor that provides ecology surveys, arboriculture services, and practical habitat works, and it states that it can help clients secure planning permission through rigorous reporting and by implementing recommended compensation measures — including under European Protected Species licences.

What triggers the need for an ecology survey

A survey is usually requested as part of the planning process rather than chosen at random. Common triggers include:

• A planning concern raised by the local authority — for example, a query about protected species or habitats on or near the site.
• Planning conditions attached to a consent — where approval is granted subject to ecological work being carried out or verified.
• A site with potential to support protected species — the presence of suitable habitat that a case officer or ecologist flags as needing assessment.
• A European Protected Species licence requirement — where a development affects species covered by this stricter licensing regime.

Contract Ecology describes its role as addressing exactly this situation: providing an ecology survey or “a friendly ecologist to address a planning concern.”

What Contract Ecology provides

The company positions itself across three connected areas, which matters because a planning case often needs more than a survey alone.

The fencing side is worth noting separately: Contract Ecology states it has a trusted reputation as a leading installer of wildlife exclusion fencing, including amphibian and reptile fencing, and water vole and badger fencing, installed across the UK. For projects where mitigation requires physical exclusion or protection measures, this means survey and implementation can come from the same contractor.

How the planning support works in practice

The company’s stated approach follows a sequence that mirrors how ecological input feeds into a planning application:

1. Survey and assessment — specialist ecology and arboriculture surveys carried out by a team holding the relevant qualifications and licences.
2. Reporting — the company says it uses “very rigorous reporting and survey standards” to help clients secure planning permission.
3. Mitigation and compensation design — recommended measures are identified, with the stated principle that Contract Ecology will only recommend a mitigation strategy it is certain can be achieved.
4. Implementation — the company can implement every recommended compensation measure, which is relevant when consent depends on those measures actually being delivered.
5. Licensed species work — support extends to securing planning consent even under the strict conditions attached to a European Protected Species licence.

The practical value of steps 3 and 4 together is that a recommendation made at the survey stage is not handed off to an unrelated party — the same practice can carry it out.

What to check before you engage a consultancy

Because planning requirements and licensing rules vary by site, species, and local authority, a few conditions are worth confirming early:

• Whether your local planning authority has already raised a specific concern — this shapes what survey or report is actually required.
• Whether a protected species licence is likely — this is a stricter track and affects timelines and what evidence is needed.
• Whether mitigation must be installed, not just designed — if consent depends on delivery, confirm the contractor can both specify and install the measures.
• UK coverage — Contract Ecology states it provides services throughout the UK, which is relevant if your site is outside its local area.

Getting a quote or starting a conversation

Contract Ecology lists a contact number for services and quotes: (0)1772 731 404. The website presents separate entry points for ecology surveys, fencing services, and habitat services, so the most direct route is to describe your planning situation — the concern raised, the site, and any deadlines — and ask which service line applies.

The site does not publish pricing, so cost needs to be established directly with the company rather than assumed from the website.

Contract Ecology is a UK-wide ecological consultancy and contractor that combines survey and consultancy work with practical delivery — wildlife exclusion fencing, habitat creation, and land management. It is a reasonable fit if you need one team that can both produce planning-grade ecological reports and carry out the mitigation works those reports recommend, rather than coordinating a separate consultant and contractor. The company states over 17 years of experience, with earlier material citing over 10 years, so treat the longer figure as the current claim.

What Contract Ecology actually does

The site groups its work into three service lines:

Alongside these, the company describes itself as an ecologist, arborist, and environmental management practice, offering specialist ecology and arboriculture surveys, consultancy, and practical environmental groundworks across all phases of development.

The case for choosing them

Qualifications and licences

Contract Ecology states that its team holds "all the necessary qualifications and licences" to deliver its range of services, including specialist ecology and arboriculture surveys. This matters most when a project touches protected species, because survey work and mitigation for those species typically require a licensed ecologist. The company also says its consultants have taken additional certification and practical training in countryside and landscape management.

Consultancy plus contracting in one place

The distinctive part of the offer is that the same organisation can survey, report, and then install the mitigation. For a development with, say, great crested newts on site, that means the newt fencing recommended in the report can be installed by the team that wrote it. The site explicitly frames this as being "trusted to deliver as part of your project team in order to get your development off the ground."

A stated limit on what they will recommend

Contract Ecology says it "will only ever recommend such a mitigation strategy for our clients that we are certain can be achieved." That is a useful commitment to check against in practice: ask for examples of mitigation schemes they have designed and delivered, and confirm the timescales they are confident about, since an unachievable mitigation plan is a common cause of planning delay.

Planning-permission focus

The company positions its reporting and survey standards as a route to securing planning permission, and says it can implement every recommended compensation measure — including under the strict conditions attached to a European Protected Species licence. If your goal is a consent rather than a survey report for its own sake, this is the relevant claim to test.

Where to be careful

• Verify the licence position for your species. The site says the team holds the necessary licences, but licences are species- and sometimes project-specific. Ask directly which licences the named surveyor holds for the protected species likely to be on your site.
• Get the scope and cost in writing. The site publishes no pricing. Contact details are given as (0)1772 731 404 for services and quotes, so treat any figure as quote-dependent.
• Check coverage against your location. The company advertises UK-wide fencing installation and services "throughout the UK," but confirm availability and mobilisation for your site before assuming it.
• Match the service to your stage. Survey and consultancy work is most useful before or during a planning application; fencing and habitat works come after. Confirm which phase you are buying.

Questions worth asking before you appoint them

1. Which named ecologist will lead the work, and what licences do they hold for the species relevant to my site?
2. Can you provide examples of projects where you both surveyed and installed the mitigation?
3. What is your typical turnaround from instruction to survey, and from survey to report?
4. Which parts of the work do you deliver in-house, and which are subcontracted?
5. What would you need from me to give a firm quote?

If your project needs arboricultural input as well as ecology — for example, a site with both protected species and trees affected by the layout — the combined ecology and arboriculture offer is the main reason to shortlist Contract Ecology over a single-discipline consultancy.