At Bowlts we place real importance on the value of the nation's built and natural heritage. We recognise that environmental and conservation issues - not to mention public opinion - are now significant factors in land management. As a result, we offer a wide range of audit, planning and consultancy services designed to help rural property managers deal with increasingly rigorous environmental standards.

We provide: • Advice on statutory designations and new environmental legislation. • Advice on converting to organic farming. • Habitat restoration and integrated bio-diversity plans. • Liaison with official environmental and heritage organisations. • Heritage and archeological audits and surveys. • Access agreements for conservation sites, footpaths and forests. • Environmental impact assessments. • Advice and assistance with grant/subsidy applications. • Audits and applications for agri-environmental schemes.

Statutory Designations & Environmental Legislation...
                                                                                                      
We can advise clients on the implications of statutory designations and directives emanating from local authorities, UK government, EC and various non-governmental organisations. This covers designations applying to buildings, land, trees, birds, plants and animals. We are able to identify the key protected species, habitats and ecosystems within current legislation - and have up to date information on all areas of special significance such as Natura 2000 sites, SPA's, SCA's, SSSI's, etc. Furthermore, on any development projects, we will provide an outline of environmental constraints and detail the potential economic impact.

Audits, Surveys and Environmental Impact Assessments...
                                                                                                              
Today's land managers require ever increasing detail to co-ordinate all aspects of a property and to thoroughly investigate all commercial opportunities - especially in relation to grants and subsidies. We can conduct audits, surveys and assessments covering everything from bird life to the built environment - many of which provide vital information for realising the full potential of assets in a sustainable way. Among the services we offer are:

Habitat Restoration and Regeneration...
                                                                            
We help clients to manage habitats and resources on a sustainable and economically-sound basis. The emphasis is on integrated habitat management - recoginising the inter-dependence between species and the importance of bio-diversity - and the development of sustainable and complementary land management systems.

We prepare management plans for nature conservation areas, deer forests, archaeological sites, long distance or local footpath networks, and native and riparian woodlands. In particular we use imaginative designs when we are creating or restoring native woodlands - and our long term forest plans recognise the environmental demands placed on a woodland resource and how these have to be managed sympathetically within the constraints of other objectives such as production targets, sporting use and public recreation.

Liaising with Officials, Neighbours and Communities...
                                                                                                       
We have an excellent track record in liaising and working with the numerous public and charitable agencies in the environment and conservation field such as RSPB Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Wildlife Trust, The Woodland Trust, Forestry Commission, Deer Commission for Scotland and Historic Scotland. This provides our clients with a valuable starting point in the preparation of habitat management plans and agri-environment schemes which may attract additional funding.

On behalf of our clients, we will liaise directly with neighbouring landowners and local community representatives to ensure that local concerns are taken into account in developing any major changes in land use. This may also be important on smaller projects such as new services, access routes, radio masts and landscaping proposals.