A species protected from persecution and includes any impacts within close proximity to a sett. Badger populations are dense in the south of England with smaller populations in the centres of large towns and cities. Badgers can be found throughout the countryside including farmland and woodlands. Our ecologists have worked on a range of rural and urban developments including: Survey of extensive badger setts in Waltham Abbey using GIS, in advance of planning Creation of artificial badger setts in Harlow, where the main sett was situated in the development area Badger setts comprise tunnels and chambers that are visible as single or groups of holes, called setts. Entrances are broader than they are high, oval in shape and surrounded by loose soil. Where main setts are threatened by development it is often necessary to replicate these in nearby suitable habitat.  Sett surveys involve walking around a site looking for evidence of badger such as sett entrances, latrines, footprints, snuffle holes or badger hairs. If a sett is identified, we aim to classify the sett and to determine if it is active or inactive. Further site visits may be required to classify the sett. Sett and Bait surveys can be carried out December-January. Bait marking can be completed February-August. Sett surveys February-November. If a badger sett is active and going to be affected by the proposed development, a mitigation strategy and licence from Natural England may be required.