Optimum Time For Protecting Bats

[Johnny Redgate]

I suspect "a bat count in May" is Red Squirrel paraphrasing the requirements a bit but perhaps she can let us know?

[neldadog]

Just to clear things up Red Squirel, Woodman was making perfect sense.

You had what is known as a ‘building inspection’ of you barn undertaken in December 2009 for potential bat roosts.

Current guidance from the Bat Conservation Trust's Bat Survey's Good Practice Guidelines (2007) clearly state that a building inspection alone is not enough to prove a 'negative' when it come to presence of bat roosts within a building(s).

The guidelines make it clear that activity surveys must therefore be undertaken during the appropriate period of peak bat activity (April to September) to supplement a building inspection. This is even for buildings considered to be of ‘low potential’.

Unfortunately Red Squirel, the consultant you hired was making perfect sense. All good quality bat consultants, including myself have to stick to best practice guidance. I read reports from other consultants frequently and I have not come across one which doesn’t. The Local Planning Authority will require proof that full surveys have been conducted and will look for best practice throughout. Believe me, these guidelines, love them or loath them, are endemic throughout the industry.

Although I don’t know the full details of the survey or the structure of the barn, I would suggest that if the barn was searched 'thoroughly', evidence of significant bat roosts probably would have been found. Evidence of low numbers of bats is more difficult to find (because low numbers of droppings are deposited), particularly where they may be roosting in discrete places (such as between under felting and roof tiles).

Further to this – bat droppings are hard to find in low numbers where there is lots of muck on the floor, if the buildings has been swept or cleaned recently and if parts of the barn could not be accessed. It is impossible to ‘thoroughly’ search any building for bats, there are always nooks and cranies in where bats may get in low numbers.

The only way to ‘thoroughly’ search a barn for bats would be to use heat sensitive equipment - very expensive and not in wide use by most consultants (or yet agreed as a survey standard).

Red Squirrel - I would suggest you hire the same consultant or another to conduct the survey when stated prior to you planning application. Providing the Local Planning Authority with a bat report for a barn without activity surveys is very risky. They would have every right to refuse the permission on grounds of lack of survey information. I have seen it happen in cases very similar to yours plenty of times.

Anyway, I don’t really want to give any further advice, as I don't know the background the survey, your barn and the development. Each site should be taken on its own merits.

I would urge yourself and anyone else for that matter not to seek advice on a forum such as this with regard to development and protected species.

Bats are protected by law and you should be seeking advice from professionals. Unfortunately many people do not have the experience or knowledge of the complexities of planning law and protected species legislations to give sound advice.

Your local bat group, Wildlife Trust or even the Bat Conservation Trust would be able to give you advice over the phone – have a look over the internet. If you phone the LPA for advice they will just put you in contact with the above groups.

[Red Squirrel]

'I would urge yourself and anyone else for that matter not to seek advice on a forum such as this with regard to development and protected species.'

All I am asking is the optimum time for the protection of any bats that might be using the barn and give them all the care that they are entitled to in law and beyond.

I agree totally and understand all the above posts and appreciate your comments.

I am not seeking to challenge the surveyers report nor his ability to produce a fair and accurate report.

[neldadog]

In no way did I suggest that you were seeking to challange the surveyors report. I was only trying to help!

You obviously have the best intentions with regards to wildlife but you have been completly mis-advised by some people on this thread.

I am sure you, or anyone else, would only take most advise on this forum with a pinch of salt and try other avenues - possibly my quoted words were a little strict.

[Mitty]

Heya Red Squirrel,

I think most bats give birth mid-June/July and the new juveniles can fly from the maternity roost after 4/5 weeks. (Good website with concise facts here). So June to August would be a bad time if they decide to set up their maternity roost in your barn this year.

I'm no expert, but perhaps it would be good to put up bat boxes as soon as possible (away from the barn but under the cover of trees) because they will be trying out different roosts all summer and they will know your boxes are there if they need an alternative.

[Red Squirrel]

Thanks for the excellent website Mitty and the advice. Will act on that.