Wildlife advice

Please expand the sections below for advice on common wildlife-related enquiries. If your biodiversity query is not covered here or on the Powys Biodiversity Partnership pages, please contact us for further guidance. 

Control of native and non-native invasive weeds

The council controls problem plants on land we own or are responsible for managing, such as road verges, but individual landowners are responsible for control on their land, including along watercourses.

There are two broad types of problem plants: 

• Harmful weeds
• Non-native invasive plants

Harmful weeds

There are five species covered by the Weeds Act 1959: Common Ragwort, Spear Thistle, Creeping or Field Thistle, Broad-leaved Dock, and Curled Dock. All are native to Britain and it is not illegal to have them growing on your land. However, enforcement notices can be given to landowners or occupiers to prevent the spread of any of these species onto agricultural land, particularly land used for grazing or producing hay or silage.

You can find information about the identification and control of harmful weeds on the  Natural Resources Wales website. The Welsh Government has also produced the Code of Practice to Prevent and Control the Spread of Ragwort and is responsible for dealing with specific complaints about Common Ragwort. 

Please use our Reporting Form to tell us about harmful weeds or non-native invasive plants on a road verge.

Invasive weeds

Non-native invasive plants are species that have become established in the wild after their introduction to Britain, for example as ornamental garden plants. It is an offence to plant or cause to grow in the wild any species listed in Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Non-native invasive plants and animals affect all of us. It is estimated that the impact of non-native invasive species (on agriculture, forestry, fishing, development and water industries for example) costs the British economy £1.7 billion each year.

They also

• Cause health problems
• Increase flooding risk
• Damage property
• Lead to a decline in native biodiversity

The most common and widespread non-native invasive plants in Powys include Japanese Knotweed, Giant Hogweed and Himalayan Balsam. Curly Waterweed and Australian Swamp Stonecrop are non-native invasive water plants found in some parts of Powys. 

Please use our Reporting Form to tell us about harmful weeds or non-native invasive plants on a road verge.

Japanese Knotweed

If you have Japanese Knotweed on your land, you are responsible for making sure that it doesn't spread onto neighbouring land. The Environment Agency has produced useful guidance for controlling or eradicating Japanese Knotweed. You may also wish to seek help from an appropriately qualified and experienced contractor to treat it. Where the infestation spreads across different ownership boundaries all landowners/occupiers will need to work together to solve the problem. The council does not offer a service to control non-native species growing on private land, but we are willing to work with neighbouring landowners to control Japanese Knotweed where it also occurs on our land.

For information about identification and control of Japanese Knotweed and other non-native invasive species visit the Natural Resources Wales website. Gardeners may also find information from the Royal Horticultural Society useful.

Please use our Reporting Form to tell us about harmful weeds or non-native invasive plants on a road verge.

Bats

There are 18 species of bat found in the UK (meaning that bats make up about a quarter of all Britain's mammal species) and of these species, 14 have been recorded in Powys.

Bats naturally live in trees and caves, but many have adapted to roosting in buildings such as houses, churches, barns, tunnels and bridges. All native bats are insect eaters and are unrelated to mice and other rodents. This means that bats roosting in buildings do not chew through wiring, timber, furniture or other items.

British and European bat populations have fallen rapidly over the last hundred years so all UK bats and their roosts are strictly protected by law.

If you need advice about bats, both GOV.UK and the Bat Conservation Trust have produced guidance for roost owners, site developers and managers, as well as guidance about legislation and licence requirements. The Bat Conservation Trust also gives advice via the National Bat Helpline.

You should talk to Natural Resources Wales before you start any structural or unusually noisy work, erect lighting, or fell or prune trees, if you suspect bats may be roosting nearby. Natural Resources Wales will give advice on the best way of working. If you find any bats when you are working on a property or tree you should stop work immediately and contact Natural Resources Wales for advice.

If you need advice about bats in relation to a planning application see the Planning and Development (wildlife) page.

Birds

All birds, nests and eggs are legally protected in Britain. Some birds, such as barn owls, have extra protection that means that it is illegal to disturb the birds when they are on or near the nest. 

We recommend that to protect nesting birds (and comply with the law) hedges and trees should not be cut between March and August. Birds may nest earlier or later, so if you think nesting might be taking place you should avoid cutting until the nesting season has completely finished.

The RSPB provides very helpful advice for some common issues such as:

• Dealing with injured wild birds
• Birds nesting in the roof
• Removing of bird nests
• Managing garden hedges

It also provides advice for farmers and landowners on managing habitats to benefit birds throughout the year, including specific advice for those covered by agri-environment schemes.

If you need information about birds in relation to a planning application see the Planning and Building Control section.

Hedgerows

Hedgerows were originally designed to keep animals in or out of fields and to mark ownership boundaries. They are now also appreciated for their cultural and historical associations and great importance for wildlife. 

For information about hedgerow biodiversity see our Powys Biodiversity Partnership pages. The Birds section of these pages provides information on nesting birds in hedgerows. 

Management

The cutting and laying of existing hedgerows is the responsibility of the landowner or occupier. This includes hedges alongside a public highway or public right of way. The County Council may cut hedgerows in order to maintain access along a highway, if this has not already been done by the landowner. This usually only affects hedgerow growth extending into the highway, or where the hedge is blocking road signs.

To report a problem with a hedgerow alongside a public road please use our Reporting Form.

Removal 

If you remove a hedgerow you must comply with the Hedgerow Regulations 1997. It is illegal to remove or destroy certain hedgerows without permission from Powys County Council. If you have a question about removing hedgerows, please email:  Planning.enforcement@powys.gov.uk. You can find more information on the regulations and hedgerow conservation and management on the following website: 

• Natural England 

High Hedges

The council may intervene in disputes between private landowners over domestic boundary hedges and trees but only if the High Hedge Regulations 2005 apply. If you need advice or want to make a complaint under the regulations please email:  Planning.enforcement@powys.gov.uk

For information about the regulations, resolving a dispute and making a complaint visit GOV.UK

Roads

You can find information about the County Council's management of highway verges and what to do if there is a dead animal on the highway here.

The council has a network of over 100 Road Verge Nature Reserves, managed to conserve the range of plants growing there.

More information on Biodiversity and Nature Recovery in Powys can be found on the Biodiversity in Powys pages. Contact biodiversity@powys.gov.uk if you need further information or have another question relating to wildlife on road verges.

Trees

Trees and woodland are an important part of the Powys landscape. As well as native deciduous broadleaf woodland, there are large tracts of commercial conifer woodland managed by Natural Resources Wales, private forestry companies and landowners. 

Before falling a tree on private property you may want to visit our Tree Preservation Orders and Trees in Conservation Areas to ensure it's not subject to a Tree Protection Order (TPO) or in a conservation area

The council is responsible for maintaining trees on its own land and can take action to manage trees along public highways where there is a potential danger to highway users. If you have a concern about one of the council's trees or a tree along a public highway you can report it on Highways Pages. For information about trees next to public rights of way go to the Public Rights of Way pages. 

Advice

Landowners and occupiers are responsible for managing trees on private land. The council does not have a dedicated tree officer, and so we can't provide specialist advice about tree health or dangerous trees. If you have a concern about your own tree or that of one of your neighbours (who is not the council) you should seek expert advice from a qualified, experienced tree surgeon (arboriculturalist). Choose one who is familiar with the legal requirements to protect bats and nesting birds.

Protected Trees

Tree Preservation Orders and Trees in Conservation Areas

Trees within town and village Conservation Areas or subject to Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) will need consent from Planning Services before any work can be carried out on them.

Please note that Powys County Council is not directly responsible for works affecting trees and hedgerows carried out by:

• utility companies (electricity, telecommunications, water, gas)
• private landowners on their own land (including when alongside a highway or public right of way)
• the Welsh Assembly Government, e.g. major road schemes

Help with trees

The council is responsible for maintaining trees on its own land and can take action to manage trees along public highways where there is a potential danger to highway users. Landowners and occupiers are responsible for managing trees on private land.

• Trees along public highway

If you have a concern about one of the council's trees or a tree along a public highway you can report it using our online form.

If the tree has actually fallen onto the highway, please ring 0345 6076060 urgently to report the issue.

• Trees obstructing rights of way

If a tree or large branch falls across a public right of way, the removal of the branch or tree is the responsibility of the owner of the tree.

Please contact us if you see a tree or branch blocking a right of way. We'll contact the owner of the tree and ask them to remove the obstruction within a reasonable time. If they don't, we'll remove the branch/tree and recover our costs from the owner.

• Damaged or unhealthy trees

We don't have a dedicated tree officer, and so we can't provide specialist advice about tree health or dangerous trees.

If you have a concern about your own tree or a tree belonging to one of your neighbours (who is not the council) you should seek expert advice from a qualified, experienced tree surgeon (arboriculturalist). Choose one who is familiar with the legal requirements to protect bats and nesting birds.

Landowners and occupiers are responsible for managing trees on private land.

Trees next to the highway

If you have trees on your land or property close to a road or pavement, it is your responsibility to make sure that they are safe and not a hazard to others. You can find out more about your responsibilities for trees next to the highway here: Trees next to the highway

Crime

Crimes against wildlife include buying, selling, harming or disturbing wild animals or plants that are protected by law, as well as cruelty towards non-domesticated animals.

If you have good reason to believe that a wildlife crime has been committed please inform Dyfed-Powys Police. Concerns over the welfare of domesticated livestock should be reported to Trading Standards.

To report damage to a protected site, such as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), contact Natural Resources Wales.

Planning and development (wildlife)

It's important to think about the impact that development can have on local wildlife. If there are protected species on or near a development site, measures can be put in place to safeguard them while work is carried out. 

Many developments may be able to go ahead as planned; in other cases some changes will need be made to protect the wildlife on site.

Local planning authorities are required to consider any impact on wildlife when making a decision on an application. Incorporating features that protect and enhance wildlife and biodiversity at an early stage in a project, preferably before a planning application is submitted, often saves time and money. Information on species and habitats recorded in Powys, including protected species and sites, is available from the county's local biological record centre.

If you are concerned about a biodiversity issue related to listed building consent, planning applications, planning decisions or enforcement of planning conditions please contact Planning and Building Control.

National wildlife guidance related to planning can be found here:

Technical Advice Note 5: Nature Conservation & Planning

Protected or important species and habitats

Powys is home to a huge variety of wildlife. Many plants, mammals, birds, fish, insects and fungi in Powys are protected by law and/or classed as nationally or locally important. There are also some areas of land and water that are protected because of the wildlife that live there.

If you need information about the location or distribution of particular species or habitats in Powys please contact the Biodiversity Information Service for Powys and Brecon Beacons National Park (BIS), the county's local biological records centre. 

There are several types of legally-protected sites in Powys, including: 

• Sites of Special Scientific Interest

SSSIs give legal protection for the best examples of the UK's plants, animals or landscapes. These sites are also used to support other national and international nature conservation designations, such as Special Protection Areas (SPA) and Special Areas of Conservation (SAC). Most SSSIs are privately-owned or managed. There are over 200 SSSIs in Powys.

• Special Areas of conservation

SACs are designated under the European Commission's Habitats Directive. They are areas which best represent the range and variety of habitats and (non-bird) species within the European Union. SACs, together with Special Protection Areas, form the Natura 2000 network. There are several SACs in Powys, including the Wye and Usk rivers. 

• Special Protection Areas

SPAs are classified by the UK Government under the EC Birds Directive. They are the most important habitats for rare and migratory birds within the European Union. 

• Ramsar sites

Ramsar sites are designated under legislation agreed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971. Originally intended to protect important waterfowl habitats, they now cover all aspects of wetland conservation. Ramsar sites celebrate wetlands as extremely important places for biodiversity, conservation and human well-being. A small part of the Ramsar site on the Dyfi estuary is in Powys.

• National Parks

National parks have conserved and enhanced rural landscapes since 1949. They also promote public enjoyment of the countryside and must have regard for the social and economic well being of those living within them. More information about the Brecon Beacons National Park can be found on their website. 

• National Nature Reserves

NNRs are some of Britain's most important natural and semi-natural sites. They are managed to conserve habitats and to allow the scientific study of the species living there.

• Local Nature Reserves

Local Nature Reserves are designated and managed by the council for nature conservation. They provide opportunities for research and education, and for people to enjoy nature. Lake Park in Llandrindod Wells became a LNR in 2010.

• Country Parks

These are managed by local authorities to provide recreation and leisure opportunities, but many are also areas of semi-natural habitat and so enable recreation and the natural environment to coexist. Craig-y-nos Country Park is located within the Brecon Beacons.

Information and advice about legally protected species, SSSIs, SACs, SPAs, NNRs and Ramsar sites can be obtained from the  Natural Resources Wales (NRW).

See also the pages on Bats and Birds. 

Locally important sites

Not all areas that are important for wildlife are legally protected. Local authorities and/or wildlife trusts across Wales have developed criteria to select sites that are important for local biodiversity. Once sites are identified, information and advice is provided to landowners to help with wildlife-friendly management. 

In Powys, a network of Wildlife Sites (WS) has been set up to preserve remaining semi-natural habitats. The three Powys Wildlife Trusts survey the sites and provide management advice to landowners. The County Council manages a network of over a hundred Road Verge Nature Reserves, selected and managed to conserve their botanical interest. More information about the RVNR network can be found on the Powys Nature Partnership pages.