Bat Survey Malvern: Protected Species Surveys

A bat survey, Malvern, can be a crucial step in determining whether bats are present in buildings, structures, or trees on development sites. These surveys are often used in project planning to address bat-related concerns during the planning permission application process.

All bat species, including their breeding and roosting sites, are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. If bats are present on a site, it is illegal to cause deliberate harm to them or obstruct access to their roosts or habitats. Therefore, mitigation strategies are essential for ensuring an environmentally responsible development process which supports bats.

As Malvern forms part of the Malvern hills landscape, survey requirements may differ for a development planning process depending on the location of the site and the nature it may host.

Preliminary Roost Assessment:  A Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA) should be conducted first to idenify whether bats are likely to be present in a specific building or structure. These surveys inspect for bats internally and externally.

This assessment is an important first step in the process of understanding the scale of impact a project development may have on the bat species residing on site and in the area.

Bat emergence and re-entry surveys: If a PRA determines that bats could be present, a bat emergence survey or a re-entry survey will typically be performed to monitor further bat activity in and around the bat roosts. An emergence and re-entry bat survey includes monitoring entry and exit points to provide information on the location, species, and population of the bats.

These surveys are carried out on multiple occasions over a period of time to collect a substantial range of data and encourage accurate results. Our bat consultants use bat detectors to monitor bat activity without causing unnecessary disturbance to the bats.

Nocturnal bat surveys: A nocturnal bat survey is an 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 conservation efforts related to development projects.

At Collington Winter Environmental, we provide expert guidance to our clients. Our ecological advisors are proudly licensed by Natural England and hold European Protected Species licenses. We collaborate with bat conservation trusts and developers to safeguard endangered bat species across the UK while supporting the planning application process.

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