Biodiversity, short for biological diversity, is the term used to describe the variety of life found on Earth and all of the natural processes. This includes ecosystem, genetic and cultural diversity, and the connections between these and all species. As a public body, we have a duty to consider biodiversity in all aspects of our work.
Visit denbighshirecountryside.org.uk (external website) to find out more about biodiversity in Denbighshire.
Protected species and habitats
Some biodiversity is protected by law. Certain species are protected under UK and European legislation, which broadly prohibit the killing, injuring, taking or selling of wild animals and plants listed in the appropriate schedule. Protection is also given to their places of shelter or breeding.
Protected species (PDF, 352KB)
Areas of the environment can be designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas. Locally important sites are designated as Wildlife Sites.
Protected sites (PDF, 1.9MB)
Some species and habitats are priorities for biodiversity conservation in Wales under Section 42 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act. You can find out which species and habitats these are by reading the following documents;
Planning works
It is important that biodiversity is considered early on in the planning process to avoid delays and/or additional costs. Depending on your proposal, you may need to submit ecological surveys and mitigation proposals as part of your planning application.
The Conservation and Enhancement of Biodiversity Supplementary Planning Guidance contains additional information to guide you through the planning process and should be referred to prior to submitting your application.
You can email us to discuss this further.
Bat surveys and good practice guidance
Ecologists conducting bat surveys and submitting reports in support of planning applications should be familiar with, and refer to, ‘Collins, J. (ed.) (2023) Bat Surveys for Professional Ecologists: Good Practice Guidelines (4th edition)’. This supersedes ‘Collins, J. (ed.) (2016) Bat Surveys for Professional Ecologists: Good Practice Guidelines (3rd edition). The text has been prepared by Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) (external website), discussed and agreed with mammal specialists at the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies (SNCB), and reviewed prior to publication by a Technical Review Board.
From 2025 onwards we expect night vision aids (NVAs) to be used as standard protocol, rather than an optional or complementary method for bat emergence surveys on both buildings and trees. Justification for not using NVAs will be required in the ecological consultant’s report supporting a planning application.
Ecologists without a survey licence from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) should not enter known roosts or sites where signs of bat presence, (or possible bat presence) have been found. Even where no sign of bats has been found, surveys of potential roost sites should only be carried out by ecologists with a survey licence covering the relevant activities. Emergence surveys do not require a licence to be in place if there is no risk of disturbing bats.
Roost re-entry surveys (otherwise known as dawn surveys) have been removed as a routine method for assessing presence or likely absence of bats.
It is now recommended that bat surveys are spaced at least three weeks apart, preferably more, to maximise the possibility of detecting maternity roosts including pre-parturition and post-parturition.
Any queries on ecology surveys should be addressed to biodiversityplanning@denbighshire.gov.uk.
What are we doing to help?
We carry out projects through our Local Biodiversity Action Plan to benefit important habitats and species.
Find out more about our biodiversity projects (external website).
More information
You can email us for advice on any aspect of biodiversity in Denbighshire.