Water Framework Directive
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Ancient trees are recognized as irreplaceable assets that are vital to wildlife as well as our own sense of identity.
As trees reach the later parts of their age span and beyond, their management and safety require more specialised guidance. Our team are experienced in managing aging tree populations and their varying conditions and unique requirements. We can offer guidance on their management, to ensure where possible that the trees to continue to provide their benefits as historical landscape features as well as the benefits to wildlife for many years to come.
There are extensive laws which control the trees and woodlands to ensure their safe retention and protection.
With wide-ranging experience in this field and extensive academic knowledge, we are able to provide advice across a wide array of tree subjects, whether it is advice on planning appeals, felling licences, hedgerow mediation, or TPO tree work applications we are able to advise and assist.
Developing near trees? Too often trees have been seen instead as barrier to development, we take the approach that planning should take place with the presence and the benefits of trees as a given.
Their assessment and the identification of their value to the site and the wider locale is also important when considering their retention potential, and the protection requirements (throughout development). Working cooperatively with you, allows us to in successfully consider trees in the planning and design process and can often be critical to a successful outcome of planning decisions.
We can be called upon to help with anything from a simple desktop assessment and general advice to a full suite of Impact Assessment and Method Statements, on-site supervision, Landscape design & planting, and also aid in finding technical solutions to more advanced schemes.
From recommendations on tree planting, management and condition surveying, to landscape restoration and managing vegetation on both large and small-scale projects, our dynamic advisory services cover every aspect for individual tree and woodland management and are delivered to the highest of modern industry standards.
When Planning Permission is granted, the Local Planning Authority (LPA) often require additional information is submitted as a Planning Condition. We can aid in the successful meeting and discharge of conditions linked to tree protection and retention.
Working with our in-house landscape architects, we can also offer tailored tree planting and landscape schemes, and offer design and advice to not only improve your sites landscape and function, but also aid in its establishment.
Tree owners have a legal ‘duty of care’ to take reasonable steps to ensure the safe condition of their trees. Whether it is a singular tree or a whole estate, we can efficiently assess by Visual Tree Assessment (VTA) the condition of the trees.
These assessments provide clear information on the general condition of the tree, its health and vitality. This enables us to advise you with current and potential future works to help maintain or improve the condition of trees and their relative safety in a controlled and structured approach, which will aid in reducing your long term expenditure and improving the benefits of the trees.
We have significant expertise in designing and installing flow gauging stations, including modifications of existing gauging stations to facilitate fish passage (e.g. through retrofitting of baffles or adding a Larinier fish pass in compound with an existing gauging weir). We can advise on siting, choice of method/feasibility and design. We have also excellent working relationship with NIVUS GmbH, with whom we have worked closely in designing new transit time ultrasonic stations.
We have an impressive track record in relation to delivering strategic hydrometric studies:
[1] See Davis, R., Zaidman, M., Grew, R. & Garrett, K. 2010. Evaluating the benefits of the hydrometric network in England and Wales. Proceedings of the British Hydrological Society Conference, Newcastle University, July 2010.
All the data we collect and supply undergoes strict validation and data assurance processes before use/issue. We are also able to undertake independent validation or checks of third party data; a recent example being an independent review of the quality of hydrometric data collected by the Tweed Forum as part of their Eddleston Water Project.
Our team has been widely involved in defining procedures for data management and assessment of data quality, of which some of the higher-profile projects have included:
We offer a spot gauging service using our own Valeport Model 801 Electromagnetic Open Channel Flow Meter, which we operate in accordance with BS EN ISO 748:2007 and which undergoes calibration every three years by the manufacturer. Recognising those situations where specialist equipment is needed we also have expertise with hired instrumentation including OTT’s QLiner, Sontek’s RiverSurveyor and FlowTracker devices and RD’s Stream Pro ADCP.
We have carried out flow gauging for Natural Resources Wales, Essex and Suffolk Water, National Trust and Irwell Rivers Trust, Aire Rivers Trust, South East Rivers Trust and the Environment Agency as well as private clients (e.g. in support of hydropower assessments, abstraction licence applications, internal drainage boards/water level management plans).
Our team is highly experienced in the development of new, and in the reviewing of existing Stage-Discharge and Velocity-Index ratings. We use our innovative in-house applications to aid hydrometric data review and analysis. To date we have derived over 100 new stage-discharge ratings on behalf of the Environment Agency. We also run training courses on the topic of extrapolation of high flow ratings and use of modelling to extend high flow rating limbs.
We are expert trainers in hydrology (our team runs the foundation and advanced level training courses offered within the Environment Agency). We offer a range off-the-shelf courses covering theoretical and practical aspects of hydrological analysis but are equally able to provide tailored training based on real case studies and practical examples.
Visit our training page for more information and to book your place on a course today.
Whilst the primary responsibility for delivering water and wastewater services lies with the water companies, Local Planning Authorities can use the planning system to promote solutions which contribute to improving the management of water and provide other benefits, including: