Species

The construction industry has a positive role to play in promoting the diversity of plant and animal species. Building design features can incorporate vital habitat areas within the built environment that support varied species and green infrastructure provides connectivity for species between habitats. 

A list of species protected with priority conservation status under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan is available from the UK BAP website.

The following broad species groups are relevant to the construction industry when considering preservation and conservation measures on site:

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• Lower plants (eg. Mosses, lichens, liverworts and ferns)
• Aquatic plants (native and non-native invasive)
• Flowering plants (eg.  grasses, sedges and rushes, native plants, non-native invasive plants)
• Trees and shrubs
• Invertebrates (aquatic, spiders, soil invertebrates,  freshwater crayfish, butterflies, bees, dragonflies, molluscs)
• Fish (salmon and trout, shad)
• Amphibians and reptiles (great crested newts, sand lizards, toads, frogs newts and snakes and lizards)
• Birds (barn owls, black redstart, general UK bird reports)
• Mammals (eg bats, badgers, dormice, small mammals, otter, water voles, mustelids, foxes, deer, seal hedgehogs etc.) 

A useful list of species under some of these groups is available from Natural England here with corresponding advice and guidance.

Use the links to ‘more information’ below to access reports and external websites relevant to the industry.

Close information.