Legislation Regarding Bat Protection

[Red Squirrel]

Can anyone point me in the direction re information about the protection of bats when converting barns please?
It seems the information is somewhere out there but getting the right information is important.

[Gill Catton]

Try here:
Bats and the Law - Bat Conservation Trust

This is the Bat Conservation Trusts information and they are the national authority really.

You're right to be concerned as bats will often use barns as roost sites.

[charlieb]

Bat Conservation Trust should be able to help you, and specifically Building / Remedial Work - Bat Conservation Trust

[canis.rufus]

Hi,

As has been inferred from the links already posted, your first move should be to contact Natural England (or the appropriate SNCO if you aren't in England) and they will advise you.

It is likely that they will send someone to asses the barn, and bats are present further involvement will be required and some level of mitigation may be prescribed through a license. Any work which disturbs bats or their roosts (with or without bats present) without appropriate involvement or licensing from SNCO would be illegal disturbance - although I am sure that is not the case here.

Apart from any possible required mitigation, there are plenty of things you can do to improve the prospect for bats. Things like including bat bricks, leaving roost cavities and so on are all easy to do.

Best of Luck - Toby (NE licensed bat worker).

[Red Squirrel]

Thank you all for the info. It was just what I was looking for.