Bat Surveys and Mitigation

All species of bats are fully protected under The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010. It is illegal to injure, kill, capture or disturb a bat. It is also illegal to damage, destroy or obstruct trees, buildings or other places used for roosting, even if bats are not present.

All bat species are also protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). This means they are additionally protected from intentional or reckless disturbance, intentional or reckless obstruction of access to any place of shelter or protection; and/or, selling, offering or exposing for sale, possession or transporting for purpose of sale.

Our bat ecologists, including Natural England licensed bat ecologists, will typically conduct an initial assessment to identify the potential for bats to be using the site, which will be followed up by surveys for bat presence, activity and an evaluation of the potential value of the habitat. Should evidence of bat activity be found, further surveys may be required.

Our experienced ecologists will work with you to help ensure your project can proceed in a way that minimises disturbance to bats and their habitats, complies with legal obligations and is cost and time effective. Only licensed bat-workers are allowed to enter known bat roosts or to capture or handle bats.

Projects we have worked on include:

• Internal and external building inspections (preliminary assessments) for bats
• Dusk bat emergence and dawn re-entry surveys (roost characterisation surveys)
• Ground based tree assessments for bats and climbed bat tree inspections
• Bat activity transects
• Bat hibernation surveys
• Bat Mitigation

A mitigation strategy is required as part of a licence application for developments that may disturb bats or their habitat. Our experienced and licensed ecologists can provide advice on mitigation methods, including: the retention of bat roosts and foraging and commuting habitats; design modifications to building plans; advice on timing of works to minimise disturbance; and the provision of new habitats and roosts such as the erection of bat boxes.

Mitigation strategies may be required when an EPSM licence is not necessary. These may apply, for example, to mitigate the adverse effects arising from a proposal where commuting routes used by bats would be fragmented or where a nearby roost or foraging habitat would be disturbed owing to additional lighting. Effective mitigation measures vary from being as simple as timing the works to avoid sensitive periods, to being more detailed and holistic for complex projects involving liaison with different disciplines and contractors. Our experienced ecologists take the time to fully understand the objectives of the works and other aspects in order to offer pragmatic and innovative solutions.

Protection of roosts applies even if bats are not present at the time of development. Owing to their protected species status, a European Protected Species Mitigation (EPSM) licence issued by the relevant competent authority (i.e., Natural England) is required whenever disturbance to bats or damage to their habitat is likely to occur. We employ a number of licensed bat surveyors.

The Ecology Consultancy has extensive experience of acting as the named ecologist on licence applications. The licence application will be accompanied by a method statement detailing the actions to be carried out under the licence. The protected species licence enables appropriate mitigation measures to be put in place and their efficacy to be monitored.

Dusk emergence and dawn re-entry surveys, walked activity transects and static Anabat surveys can be undertaken between May and September (optimal survey period May to August).

External and internal building inspections and ground based tree assessments can be undertaken throughout the year, with the exception of investigations using endoscopes which are invasive and should not be undertaken in hibernation and maternity seasons.

Climbed tree inspections can be undertaken in April and September/October, in order to avoid the hibernation and maternity periods.For the same reason, felling of trees and demolition of buildings under EPSM licence is undertaken in late April/May and September/October. Hibernation surveys can be undertaken between November and March.

Our client base is broad and includes local authorities, infrastructure engineers, utility companies, planning consultants, architects and private developers such as farmers. We have been involved in small and large property development projects, working closely with all agencies involved. As experienced wildlife consultants, we are used to dealing with all legal and commercial issues surrounding protected species.

Please contact our regional office in Norwich, for surveys in East Anglia and East Midlands; in Lewes, for the South East and surrounding counties; in Edinburgh, for the North; or our Head Office in London for the rest of the UK.

We guarantee you a high quality service, with a strong focus on our clients. We are happy to give free initial advice and can provide robust fee-quotes. We provide timely, high quality reports of our work to all stakeholders.