All bats, their roosts, and some foraging areas are protected under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). This means it is an offence to kill, injure, or disturb a bat and to destroy any place it uses for rest or shelter.
Currently, 18 species of bat are known to be present in the United Kingdom, 17 of which are known to be breeding. Bats may roost in trees or buildings and typically have different roosts for different times of the year. They also use hedgerows and tree lines as important foraging or commuting corridors. Identifying these features early (whether or not a bat is present at the time) is key to the smooth running of any project and helps avoid fines.
If you have buildings or trees on site, your works may be at risk of causing an offence, and your project may be delayed by not submitting the correct survey information with your planning application.
HalpinRobbins can provide quick and reliable advice on the level of risk and licensing routes available to you. Our experienced ecologists are capable of conducting a range of bat surveys in England and Wales; each survey is tailored to meet our clients' needs and project requirements. Contact us now for a no-obligation chat.
The first step is to determine if bats are likely to be present on site. These surveys can be undertaken as "stand-alone" Preliminary Roost Inspections (PRA) or as part of a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) or Ground Level Tree Assessment (GLTA). They can be conducted at any time of year to assess the level of “roosting potential” of a site.
If a site offers potential for bats, further surveys may be required. The number of surveys needed is determined by how much potential a site has. The presence of older buildings, watercourses, meadows, grassland, woodland, hedgerow, scrub, or trees increases the likelihood that a bat survey will be required in some form.
Bats are European Protected Species, and all surveys must be undertaken by suitably experienced and licensed surveyors.
Bat surveys are varied to capture the different roost types of the many different species and may be repeated several times over the survey season.
Surveys may comprise dusk emergence and/or pre-dawn re-entry surveys. These are seasonally constrained to May to the end of September and involve looking for known or suspected roosting sites.
Nighttime bat walkover surveys and automated static monitoring are seasonally constrained to between April and the end of October and are typically used to confirm activity and connectivity within a landscape.
For more complicated survey techniques such as trapping and tracking bats, please get in touch to see how we can assist.
Hibernation surveys involve close inspections of potential roosting locations where bats are suspected of hibernating. This may include cellars, ice caves, trees, churches, and some buildings.
These surveys are seasonally constrained to November to the end of March and may require multiple visits.
HalpinRobbins can assess the presence, absence, and potential for bat species, which can be used to inform decisions on land purchase, developments, and project works, impact assessments, and, where necessary, to obtain an appropriate wildlife licence.
At HalpinRobbins, we understand the complexities involved in ecological assessments. Our team is dedicated to providing you with expert, straightforward advice, strategic thinking, and a commitment to help you achieve your goals. Whether you're planning your next development or exploring land use options, we're here to support you every step of the way.
"Nothing is too much trouble and the two-way communication is second to none. I would not hesitate to recommend HalpinRobbins to anyone and we wouldn't even contemplate going anywhere else."
— Samantha Southam, Managing Director, Falcon Rural Housing Limited
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If you wish to find out more about permitting, ecology services or to discuss a project or development please contact us directly for a free, non-committal discussion.
"Nothing is too much trouble and the two way communication is second to none. I would not hesitate to recommend HalpinRobbins to anyone and we wouldn`t even contemplate going anywhere else."
Samantha Southam - Managing Director
Falcon Rural Housing Limited
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