Ecus will be rebranded as Cura Terrae on the 6th January 2025.

Protected Species

Understand protected species and your obligations around them

Our Site Managers hold a variety of protected species licenses, including for great crested newts (GCN), white-clawed crayfish (WCC) and bats. But what does this mean? Which species are classified as protected and what do businesses and organisations need to know to continue operations, confident in their compliance with protected species legislation? Here you will find information to help understand protected species and your obligations around them. 

News & insights

We’re working with Network Rail to protect great crested newts

13th October 2021

Great Crested Newts are in decline and are listed as a European Protected Species.

Stuart Ireland Practice Area Lead, Ecology

Trail Camera Chronicles: Witnessing Scotland’s rare wildlife

21st July 2023

The Ecus Scotland team are fortunate enough to work with rare mammal species, and regularly conduct surveys for red squirrels, pine martens and Eurasian beavers.

Bronagh Cobain Graduate Ecologist

We’re working with Sheffield City Council to protect bats as 5000 homes are re-roofed

7th July 2022

The project has been highly commended by the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management.

Andy Ainsworth Practice Area Lead, Green Infrastructure

District Level Licensing explained

17th January 2022

District Level Licensing for Great Crested Newts can be complex. Stuart Ireland, Head of Ecology, blogs here about what it means for developers.

Stuart Ireland Practice Area Lead, Ecology

Contact our experts

Contact our team for expert assistance with all your protected species needs. We’re here to answer any questions and provide solutions tailored to your requirements.