Long-Term Monitoring for Conservation Covenant Success
At ProHort, we are delighted to have secured another long-term contract to deliver monitoring visits in support of a conservation covenant. This new agreement highlights the trust placed in our ecological expertise and our commitment to ensuring that the biodiversity of the land is managed responsibly over the coming decades.
Under the terms of the conservation covenant, our ecologists will undertake one monitoring visit each year for the first five years, followed by a structured programme of visits every five years thereafter. This framework provides a balanced approach—allowing for close observation during the crucial early years, while ensuring consistent, long-term oversight as habitats mature.
Each visit will focus on assessing compliance with the covenant’s requirements, ensuring that agreed management practices are being followed and that the ecological value of the land continues to improve. By recording changes, identifying potential risks, and providing professional recommendations, we help stakeholders and regulatory bodies maintain confidence that everything is being done properly and transparently.
Importantly, this ongoing monitoring process is not simply a box-ticking exercise. It is about actively supporting the management and protection of habitats so that the biodiversity of the site is maximised. Over 30 years, these visits will provide a clear picture of how the biodiversity of the land develops, helping to safeguard its environmental value and delivering tangible benefits for wildlife and local communities alike.
This contract reinforces ProHort’s role as a trusted partner in delivering practical, professional, and long-lasting ecological solutions.
Contact Us:
If you’d like to learn more about how ProHort can support your conservation covenant monitoring or wider ecological management needs, we’d love to hear from you. Contact our team at [email protected], call us on01782 479479 for further information. Our ecologists are ready to help you deliver long-term biodiversity success with confidence.
Delivering Specialist Habitat Management and Monitoring Plans (HMMPs)
We’re delighted to share that our experienced ecology team is, once again, preparing a Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (HMMP)for one of our valued Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) clients. This client is hoping to bring new units to the market, and as part of the process, a HMMP is a key document that provides confidence to potential buyers and regulators that biodiversity commitments will be delivered on and maintained long term.
A HMMP sets out how the habitats being created or enhanced on a site will be established, managed, and monitored over the required 30-year period. It provides a clear framework for responsibility, timelines, and measurable outcomes, ensuring that ecological value is not only achieved but safeguarded into the future.
For developers and landowners, having a robust HMMP helps to smooth the planning process, demonstrates compliance with BNG legislation, and supports the long-term value of the land. For buyers, it offers assurance that the site’s biodiversity responsibilities are understood and professionally managed, whilst also satisfying the requirements for their own development sites.
Our in-house ecologists are specialists in designing and delivering HMMPs, working closely with clients to ensure every plan is tailored to the unique habitats and opportunities on each site. Because we produce these plans on a regular basis, we understand the practicalities of implementation as well as the regulatory requirements.
We’re excited to be supporting another client on their journey — combining ecological expertise with commercial awareness to create HMMPs that truly deliver for people, nature, and property value.
Contact Us:
If you’d like to find out more about how our ecology team can support your Biodiversity Net Gain projects or discuss a tailored Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan for your site, please get in touch. You can reach us at [email protected], call us on 0800 494 7479, to learn more about our services. We’d be delighted to talk through your requirements and explore how we can help deliver lasting ecological and commercial value.
Are Neighbouring Trees About to Cost You?
Encroaching tree roots crossing into your garden may be more than a nuisance—they pose serious legal and structural risks. Whether they’re heaving patios, undermining drains, or compromising foundations, root encroachment requires a careful, informed approach.
Legal & Technical Considerations
1. Your Rights & Responsibilities
You can remove roots encroaching onto your property—but only from your side of the boundary.
Overstepping this limit, or removing too much, can make you liable if the tree dies or suffers serious damage.
2. Protected Trees
Trees with a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or in a Conservation Area require local authority consent.
Unauthorized root work leading to tree death could result in fines, legal action, or mandatory replacement
3. Risk of Tree Death
Severing structural roots can destabilise the tree.
If the tree dies, you may be liable for replacement costs or property damage caused by the falling tree.
4. Duty of Care
Acting reasonably and hiring a qualified arborist protects you from legal claims.
Professional surveys demonstrate responsible action
Don’t wait for small roots to become major damage — book your tree survey today. Call us on 0800 4947479 or email[email protected].
Hedgehogs: The Small Garden Visitor with Big Ecological Impact
At ProHort, our ecological surveys often bring us face to face with some of Britain’s most cherished wildlife — and few are as beloved as the hedgehog. These shy, nocturnal mammals may be small, but they play an outsized role in maintaining ecological balance.
A National Favourite Under Threat
The hedgehog is a true icon of the British countryside. Found in gardens, parks, and hedgerows, these insectivores are natural pest controllers, feeding on slugs, beetles, caterpillars, and other invertebrates.
Unfortunately, hedgehog numbers in the UK have declined dramatically in recent decades. Urban expansion, habitat fragmentation, road traffic, and loss of wild spaces have all contributed to their decline. The species is now listed as Vulnerable to Extinction on the UK Red List for mammals.
Why Hedgehogs Matter:
Aside from their charm, hedgehogs serve a vital ecological function:
Natural pest control – reducing reliance on chemical treatments
Indicators of habitat health – their presence suggests a thriving, balanced ecosystem
Biodiversity connectors – using wildlife corridors and gardens to navigate landscapes
With proper planning, development doesn’t have to come at the expense of hedgehogs. In fact, it can help support their survival. At ProHort, we work with developers, planners, and homeowners to ensure that construction is carried out with ecological responsibility.
Simple measures can make a big difference:
Installing hedgehog highways (small holes in fences to allow safe movement)
Leaving areas of untamed vegetation for nesting and foraging
Avoiding or limiting use of pesticides and slug pellets
Including hedgehog houses in landscaping plans
Ensuring surveys are conducted when required under planning law
Our Commitment at ProHort:
Every time we encounter a hedgehog during a survey, it reaffirms our commitment to nature-first planning. Our surveys don’t just satisfy planning conditions — they inform better decisions for the long-term health of local ecosystems.
If you’re developing land, planning a project, or just want to understand your responsibilities regarding protected species, we’re here to help.
Contact ProHort today to learn more about our ecological survey services — and how together, we can help protect the wildlife we all care about.
