CIRIA and The Ecology Consultancy have launched an app for the construction sector with practical advice on working on sites with protected species.
The Working with Wildlife mobile app is free and available for both Apple and Android devices.
The app provides advice on how to manage a range of protected species commonly encountered on construction sites, including: badgers, bats, birds, dormice, great crested newts, otters, reptiles and water voles. It includes information on how to recognise these species and what signs to look for on site, allowing decisions to be made on whether works can continue or whether they need to stop whilst further advice is sought.
There is also an introduction to the key aspects of current legislation, a gallery of photographs to help identify species, signs of their presence and habitats, a glossary of some of the terms used, plus references and further reading. To help users understand when protected species surveys can be undertaken, a calendar covering survey timings throughout the year is also provided.
With the help of the app, contractors and construction workers can access key information about species on the go and regular updates will mean that the information and guidance around protected species is in-line with current legislation.
To download the free app search for Working With Wildlife on the App Store or Google Play Store.
