Ecological and Biodiversity Landscaping Works
Tony Benger Landscaping is regularly involved in projects which have a specific biodiversity or ecological focus. These projects range from small and large-scale planting schemes to aquatic planting all the way up to large scale site clearance working alongside ecologists to ensure the impact to local wildlife is minimal and is in accordance with associated legislation.
As a forward thinking and environmentally conscious company, we are committed to reducing our environmental impact and regularly work with local ecologists. We have a strong relationship with the Devon wildlife trust on many of our site clearance and grounds maintenance contracts, where they advise us on the most ecologically friendly ways to carry out the work. Wherever permitted we maintain our sites in a way the promotes the retention and increase in biodiversity, this can be achieved through operations such as good wildflower and grassland maintenance, timing of works such as hedge cutting to best retain winter fruit and pollen, retention of deadwood habitats and the retention of ivy (where appropriate) , yes ivy. Ivy is an extremely valuable species for winter pollen which itself is much needed by pollinators; it can also provide habitat for endangered species such as bats.
We have also collaborated with the Devon wildlife Consultants on habitat and species identification training for our team leaders to ensure they are able to identify potential habitats and protected species. This training has allowed for the creation of a pre-work ecological check form which has to be filled out on jobs where it is believed there is an increased likelihood of interacting with local wildlife.
We have also been working closely with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. We designed a certain wildflower maintenance routine to support pollinating insects as much as possible while still achieving the aesthetic benefits. An often overlooked and forgotten part of local ecosystems are saproxylic invertebrates, many species of which are protected. To support these vital species we stack logs in strategic places on many of our sites, deadwood habitats are under threat in many areas of the country due to society's obsession with perfectly manicured landscapes, where appropriate we aim to encourage and create as many deadwood habitats as possible.
“Devon Wildlife Consultants have worked with Tony Benger Landscaping on a number of occasions over the last 6 years, including site clearance work, protected species licence work and wildlife/habitat management advice. They also asked us to provide them with biodiversity and wildlife law training sessions in 2015 and 2019. We have observed that the staff work with care and attention to wildlife, following instructions from the ecologist, and also identifying sites where ecological supervision needs to be requested.”
