We provide invertebrate assessments across Somerset, covering Taunton, Bridgwater, Glastonbury, Frome, Wells, and surrounding areas.
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Looking for expert invertebrate surveys and habitat assessments in Somerset?
We provide targeted surveys for priority species and habitats, ensuring our reports enable you to achieve planning permission.
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
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Somerset’s diverse landscape—including river floodplains, grazing marsh, wetlands, woodlands, lowland pastures, and historic parklands—supports a wide variety of invertebrate species.
An invertebrate survey is an assessment of an area to identify which invertebrate species are present. Surveyors search, observe, and sample habitats over time to assess species diversity, abundance, and conservation importance. The results help ensure development or land management proposals comply with planning and environmental regulations.
You may need an invertebrate survey in Somerset if your project involves:
Loss of wet grassland, grazing marsh, or meadow habitats near Glastonbury
Impact on brownfield land or former industrial sites in Bridgwater
Drainage alterations, ditch works, or wetland disturbance in the Somerset Levels
Activities near ponds, streams, or wetland margins in Taunton
Removal of woodland, scrub, or hedgerows in Frome
Sites flagged in a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) as having potential for notable invertebrates in Wells
A simple postcode check can help confirm what your local planning authority typically requires.
We provide invertebrate assessments across Somerset, covering Taunton, Bridgwater, Glastonbury, Frome, Wells, and surrounding areas.
In Somerset, planning authorities may require invertebrate survey evidence where suitable habitat is present to ensure development complies with the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 and national planning policy. Without early, proportionate survey work, planning applications can be delayed due to validation queries, additional conditions, or seasonal restrictions linked to key invertebrate activity periods. These delays can disrupt project programmes and may result in avoidable redesign, highlighting the importance of early, targeted invertebrate assessments.
Our specialist ecology team carries out an invertebrate surveys to assess species presence, habitat use, and any potential risks. You receive a clear, LPA-ready report outlining practical mitigation and timing recommendations, helping your project remain compliant with wildlife legislation and progress
A clear, proportionate, planning-ready approach in Somerset which includes:Â
We focus on what your project genuinely needs — not over-inflated survey demands.
Send your site details and programme. We confirm the correct level of survey.
Walkovers or multi-visit surveys depending on your sites potential.
Planning-ready reports with impact assessment, mitigation options and timelines for site teams.
Only if needed. PEA, EIA, and Protected Species surveysÂ
Need an Invertebrate Survey in Somerset? Let’s confirm your site’s requirements and keep your project on track.Â
Yes. An invertebrate survey may be required where a development could affect habitats that support notable or protected invertebrates. In Somerset, this can include wetland habitats, species rich grassland, traditional orchards, woodland edges, ponds, river corridors, brownfield land, mature hedgerows and veteran trees.
Somerset’s wetlands, moors, ditches, ponds and river corridors can support a wide range of important invertebrates, including aquatic and wetland associated species. Where development could affect these habitats or their surrounding vegetation, survey evidence may be needed to inform planning decisions.
They can do. Traditional orchards, old pasture and flower rich grassland often provide valuable habitat for beetles, bees, butterflies, moths and other invertebrates. Sites containing mature fruit trees, deadwood, unmanaged grassland or species rich vegetation may need further ecological assessment before development proceeds.
An ecologist will assess the habitats present and use suitable field techniques to record invertebrates. Methods may include sweep netting, direct observation, vegetation beating, aerial netting, hand searching, pitfall trapping and habitat condition assessment, depending on the site, season and likely species groups.
Most invertebrate surveys are undertaken between April and September when insects are active. The exact timing depends on the habitats present and the species likely to occur. Some sites may need more than one visit to capture seasonal variation and provide reliable evidence for planning.
Yes. A small development can still require an invertebrate survey if it affects valuable habitat. For example, works near wet ditches, old orchard trees, ponds, species rich grassland, veteran trees or naturally regenerated land may need assessment, even where the overall site area is limited.
If notable species or valuable habitats are recorded, the report will recommend practical measures to support planning. This may include habitat retention, wetland protection, sensitive grassland management, replacement habitat creation, deadwood retention or Biodiversity Net Gain enhancements.
Survey requirements depend on the Local Planning Authority responsible for the application. Somerset Council provides planning and environmental information at https://www.somerset.gov.uk. Ecological surveys may be requested where development could affect important habitats, protected species or designated wildlife sites.
The report will set out the survey methods, habitats assessed, species recorded, ecological value of the site and planning recommendations. Where required, it may also include mitigation, habitat protection, enhancement measures, management advice and information to support Biodiversity Net Gain.
ProHort provides professional invertebrate surveys across Somerset for residential, rural, commercial and infrastructure projects. Our ecologists produce clear, planning focused reports that help clients understand ecological constraints, meet Local Planning Authority requirements and progress applications with confidence.
