Planning ready beaver surveys and habitat assessments across Bristol and the surrounding area, providing clear ecological evidence, proportionate recommendations and practical support for developments affecting rivers, streams, wetlands and riparian habitats.
Calls answered in 2 rings, emails replied to within the hour.
Clear guidance before you commit.
Working in partnership with clients to ensure planning approval first time
Industry Leading Standard
We stay with you from first call through to submission.Â
Wild beavers are established within the wider Bristol Avon catchment, making them an increasingly relevant consideration for developments affecting suitable freshwater habitat.
A Beaver Survey may be requested where proposed works could affect beavers, their breeding or resting sites, or habitats they rely upon.
Where development could affect beavers or protected breeding and resting sites, the LPA may require sufficient ecological information to understand the potential impacts before determining an application.
Potential impacts can include:
• loss or degradation of freshwater and bankside habitat
• disturbance from construction, lighting, noise or vibration
• obstruction or damage to burrows, lodges or dams
• loss of important feeding habitat
• fragmentation of movement and dispersal routes
• clearance of bankside trees and vegetation
• changes to water quality, drainage or hydrology
Early ecological input can help provide the information requested by the LPA and reduce the risk of protected species matters causing avoidable delays.
Bristol sits within a significant network of rivers, streams and urban watercourses connected to the wider Bristol Avon catchment.
The River Avon forms the major freshwater corridor through the area, while other watercourses within Bristol include the River Frome, River Trym, Brislington Brook, Malago and numerous smaller brooks and streams.
These waterways pass through a mixture of highly urbanised areas, green corridors, parks, woodland and more natural riverbank habitat.
Depending on the location of your development, the relevant Local Planning Authority may include:
• Bristol City Council
• South Gloucestershire Council
• Bath and North East Somerset Council
• North Somerset Council
Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (as amended)
Eurasian beavers are a European Protected Species. The legislation protects beavers from deliberate killing, injury, capture and disturbance, and protects their breeding sites and resting places from damage or destruction.
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended)
Provides additional legal protection relevant to beavers, including controls relating to certain methods of capture and their release into the wild.
For development in Bristol, proposed works that could affect beavers, their breeding or resting sites, or important supporting habitat may require appropriate ecological assessment, mitigation and, in some circumstances, a Natural England licence.
ProHort provides proportionate, evidence-led advice and reporting to help support a compliant route through planning.
Bristol combines a highly urban environment with an extensive network of rivers, streams, brooks and green corridors.
The River Avon is the principal river corridor through the area and forms part of a much larger catchment extending well beyond Bristol.
Other important local watercourses include:
River Frome – entering Bristol from the north east before continuing through the city, with significant sections passing through culverts.
River Trym – flowing through north Bristol before joining the River Avon.
Brislington Brook – forming part of the network of smaller watercourses in the south east of the city.
The Malago – an urban watercourse associated with south Bristol.
Bristol also contains numerous smaller brooks, streams, drainage channels, ponds and connected wetland habitats.
Suitable beaver habitat can include:
• vegetated river and stream banks
• riparian woodland
• wet woodland
• wetlands and wet grassland
• ponds and connected waterbodies
• smaller tributaries and brooks
• areas with suitable bankside trees and vegetation
• connected freshwater corridors
For planning purposes, the assessment should consider current ecological information, field evidence, habitat suitability and the potential effects of the proposed works rather than relying simply on proximity to a river.
Wild beavers are already living within the waterways of the wider Avon area. Sightings of Eurasian beavers on the River Avon began to be reported in 2021, and subsequent monitoring has provided evidence of a wild living population within the region. Beavers have since been recorded at multiple locations within the Bristol Avon and Somerset Frome catchments, demonstrating that they are already moving through and using the wider freshwater network.
Unlike a planned reintroduction project, the origins of these beavers are uncertain. However, their established presence means beaver ecology is now a genuine consideration for appropriate development sites within the wider catchment. Monitoring and management of the population are continuing as its distribution becomes better understood. For developments affecting suitable freshwater habitat, current ecological records and site specific evidence are therefore particularly important.
Where the LPA requests further information relating to beavers, an appropriate survey can establish how a site is being used and identify any protected features that need to be considered as part of the development.
Our specialist ecology team assesses suitable habitat and identifies evidence of beaver activity, including feeding signs, tracks, burrows, lodges and dams.
You receive clear, planning ready advice identifying any ecological constraints and the appropriate recommendations for your project.
Our reports provide the ecological information needed to help you respond to planning requirements and progress your Bristol project.
We review your plans, site location, freshwater habitats and available ecological information to understand the project and any ecological issues that may need to be addressed.
Our ecologists survey suitable watercourses and connected habitats for beaver activity, including feeding signs, tracks, burrows, lodges and dams.
We assess how the proposed works could affect beavers, protected features, movement routes and supporting habitat.
You receive a clear, LPA-ready report setting out the findings and any appropriate avoidance, mitigation, monitoring or licensing recommendations.
Has your LPA requested a Beaver Survey, or do you need ecological support for development affecting a Bristol watercourse?
ProHort can undertake the appropriate assessment and provide clear, planning ready reporting to help keep your project progressing.
Yes. Wild beavers are established within the wider Avon area. Sightings on the River Avon began to be reported in 2021, with subsequent monitoring providing evidence of a wild living population within the Bristol Avon and Somerset Frome catchments.
A Beaver Survey may be requested where development could affect suitable freshwater habitat and current ecological information indicates beaver activity within or near the relevant catchment. Further assessment may also be requested following findings from a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal.
https://www.bristol.gov.uk/residents/planning-and-building-regulations
Potentially. Wild beavers are already known within the wider Bristol Avon catchment. Whether further survey work is required for a particular development will depend on its location, available ecological information, habitat suitability and the potential impacts of the proposed works.
No. Beavers can use waterways passing through or alongside developed areas where suitable habitat and connectivity remain available. This makes river corridors, tributaries and connected habitats relevant to some urban and suburban developments around Bristol.
No. The presence of a river or stream does not automatically mean a survey is required. The LPA will determine what ecological information it requires based on the circumstances of the planning application.
Our ecologists can look for evidence including gnawed or felled trees, feeding remains, tracks, slides, scent mounds, burrows, lodges and dams, together with how beavers may be using the surrounding habitat.
Potentially. These works can affect riverbanks, freshwater habitat, movement routes and hydrology. Where beavers or their protected features could be affected, the LPA may request appropriate ecological information.
Beaver Surveys can be undertaken throughout the year, although October to March normally provides the most accurate results. Vegetation growth can make field signs more difficult to detect between April and September.
No. Beaver presence does not automatically prevent development. Potential impacts should be assessed and avoidance considered first. Where impacts cannot be avoided, appropriate mitigation and potentially a Natural England licence may need to be considered.
If your Local Planning Authority requests further information relating to beavers, ProHort can undertake the appropriate ecological assessment and provide a clear, LPA ready report to support your planning application.
Where beaver activity or protected features are identified, our ecologists can also provide proportionate recommendations for avoidance, mitigation, further monitoring or licensing where applicable, helping you meet the LPA’s requirements and keep your project progressing.
