Lepus Consulting was appointed by Ian Coley Sporting Ltd to undertake an Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) and prepare an Ecological Method Statement to support a planning application for the extension of the clay pigeon shooting ground.

The aims of the EcIA were as follows:

• Identify and describe all potentially significant ecological effects associated with the proposed development;
• Set out the mitigation measures required to ensure compliance with nature conservation legislation and to address any potentially significant ecological effects;
• Identify how mitigation measures will/could be secured;
• Provide an assessment of the significance of any residual effects;
• Identify appropriate enhancement measures; and
• Set out the requirements for post-construction monitoring.

The EcIA identified key sensitivities across the site and lead to the development of an Ecological Method Statement which covered the construction and operation of the application at the woodland. The Method Statement looked to deliver a number of measures including, the sensitive timing of works, establishment of designated access routes, sensitive use of lighting and seasonal limits on site operation. The Method Statement ensured that there would be no adverse impact upon the woodland and that its ecological value was taken into consideration in the long-term management of the site.