Herbaceous plants survey

A herbaceous plants survey is a type of site investigation and a practical decision-making tool for design. It identifies the site’s habitat types, species composition and nature conservation values. A survey carried out at the right time helps avoid protected plants, valuable plant habitats or invasive alien species being discovered only during construction, requiring extensive design changes.

When is a survey required?

The survey is particularly required on land that has previously been unaffected by construction or is sensitive in terms of natural values, such as woodlands or agricultural sites. The requirement for the survey derives from local government requirements. It is typically required as part of the design documentation for a building and civil engineering works (including utility networks), as well as a detailed spatial plan.

What does a herbaceous plants survey include?

During fieldwork, the site’s habitat types, species composition, species abundance and the condition of plant communities are determined. Where necessary, the distribution areas are surveyed or the locations of individual specimens are recorded.

Protected plants, plant communities worthy of retention and invasive alien species are mapped. Recommendations are provided for preserving these values, maintaining the site, and limiting the spread of or controlling alien species.

The report comprises an explanatory letter and a drawing.

Service Quality Promise

For developers

Strategic management of the development asset’s value. The survey identifies constraints and opportunities at an early stage, helps keep the timeframe and budget under control, and enables valuable existing vegetation to be used to strengthen the development’s identity and increase its final value.

For lead designers

From the lead designer’s perspective, the survey provides the design team with a reliable basis – dependable input for the design of different disciplines. It reduces the risk of vegetation-related factors causing design changes, additional work or approval issues at a later stage.

For architects

Existing vegetation should be deliberately integrated into the architectural concept. The survey helps connect the existing environment with architecture, supports well-reasoned decisions on what to retain or remove, and helps substantiate those decisions to the client and local government.

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