Bat Survey Lower Earley: Protected Species Surveys

A bat survey, Lower Earley, helps to determine whether bats are present in buildings, structures, or trees on development sites. Incorporating these surveys into project planning is essential for addressing concerns related to bats during the planning application process.

Making an active effort to protect bat habitats and roosting sites is a priority for local councils to minimise risks to bats and other endangered species. Collington Winter Environmental has a team of skilled ecologists ready to provide the efficient ecological services that your planning application needs.

Supported by important legislation, such as The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, local town councils such as Lower Earley Town Council have the authorisation to intervene with a project if they believe actions to protect bats have been neglected.

Bat surveys are most effective when undertaken between the summer months of May and September, as this season witnesses the peak of bat activity. Wintertime surveys may also be required to assess whether it is likely that bats are using the site to hibernate.

Commonly sighted bats in Lower Earley include Whiskered bats, Brandt’s bats, Common Pipistrelle bats, Daubenton’s bats, and Soprano Pipistrelle bats.

The main types of bat activity surveys include:

Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA): The first type of survey is the Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA). This involves a desk study, reviewing local bat records and databases, combined with a site visit to perform internal and external inspections of buildings, trees, or other structures for signs of bats. Evidence may include bat droppings, feeding remains, and potential access points. The purpose of this survey is to determine whether further, more detailed assessments are necessary.

Bat Emergence and Dawn Re-entry Survey (BERS):  If evidence suggests that bats may be present, a bat emergence survey and a Re-entry Survey are carried out. These assessments are conducted at dusk and dawn, using static bat detectors to record echolocation calls. They confirm the presence of bats, identify species, and locate roosting bat sites.

Nocturnal bat survey: A nocturnal bat survey is conducted at night to observe and record the behaviour patterns of bat species. As bat activity increases during this time, nighttime surveys efficiently monitor local bat populations and assess their habitats. Here, our consultants take every precautionary step to collect data without disturbing bats.

For Good Practice Guidance for Bats, visit the Chartered Institute of Ecology website.

Once an in-depth examination of the site has occurred, if evidence of bats has been discovered in the area, your bat ecologist will provide an informative list of recommendations to apply to your site. Based on the findings of the bat survey, several recommendations are proposed to ensure compliance with wildlife legislation and to mitigate potential impacts on local bat populations.

If roosts are identified, it is typically advised that the implementation of appropriate mitigation measures such as exclusion techniques, timing restrictions to avoid sensitive periods (e.g. breeding and maternity season) and the provision of alternative roosting opportunities, such as bat boxes or bat lofts, are considered. Continued monitoring may also be recommended to assess the long-term effectiveness of mitigation and to inform future strategies to protect the site’s habitats.

Collington Winter Environmental is an ecological consultancy offering protected species and habitat services for project developments. We have extensive experience in providing bat ecologist services, including preliminary roost assessments, emergence and re-entry, and nocturnal and hibernation surveys.

Our qualified ecologists are proud to hold European Protected Species Licences and Natural England Class Mitigation licences to perform informative and reliable project assessments in England and Wales. This way, developers can be sure that any endangered species are fully protected during project development.

To find out more about a bat survey for planning permission, Lower Earley, and information on other protected species surveys we offer, such as Great Crested Newt and Badger surveys, contact us today (info@collingtonwinter.co.uk). We also provide Preliminary ecological appraisal (PEA) services and landscape architecture services to support a new development planning application. Alternatively, fill out the contact form below.