Bat Survey South Wales: Protected Species

Bat surveys are undertaken for development sites to inform a planning permission application and determine presence of bats within a structure or tree. The local planning authority will usually let you know if a bat survey is required. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 makes it condemnable by law to injure/kill bats or damage or destroy a bat roosting place, even if bats are present within a structure. Therefore, if bats are detected, a thorough bat survey can help to provide project developers with an indication of the correct measures to protect and mitigate disturbance to present bat species.

Preliminary Roost Assessment:  A Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA) is an initial survey or assessment conducted to determine whether bats are likely to be roosting in a specific building or structure.

This assessment is an important first step in the process of assessing the potential impact of project development on bat species on the site and in the area. Our consultants will carry out an internal and external inspection of the building, looking for evidence of bat roosting, including insect-feeding remains and bat droppings.

Bat emergence and re-entry surveys: Bat emergence and re-entry surveys are usually the next step following a bat scoping survey or a preliminary roost assessment when evidence of bat presence has been detected in an area. The bat worker will monitor any entry and exit points to gather information on the location, bat species, and bat population.

These surveys will be conducted on numerous occasions over a period of time until a range of sufficient data has been collected. Our ecological consultants use bat detectors to record and analyse calls without causing any disturbance to the bats.

Nocturnal bat surveys: A nocturnal bat survey is a type of ecological survey conducted at night to observe and record bat species’ activity and behaviour. These surveys are essential for monitoring bat populations, identifying species, and assessing their habitats. Nocturnal bat surveys are often carried out as part of ecological assessments, conservation efforts, and impact assessments related to development projects.

A local planning authority will usually advise project developers based in South Wales on the type of survey needed in the form of a method statement. For Good Practice Guidance for Bats, visit the Chartered Institute of Ecology website.

Collington Winter Environmental is an ecological consultancy boasting extensive experience in environmental impact assessments and surveys nationwide. Our ecologists hold Natural England bat licences and European Protected Species licences and have worked with protected species across the UK alongside bat conservation trusts.

Please contact our Managing Director Olivia Collington (info@collingtonwinter.co.uk) for more information on our wide range of ecological services and protected habitats and species survey work, including bat surveys and great crested newt surveys. We also provide preliminary ecological appraisal (PEA) and assessment services.