Bat Survey Ruthin: Protected Species Surveys

Developments in Ruthin may require a bat survey as part of the planning process to ensure compliance with environmental legislation. Bats are a European Protected Species, and their roosts and habitats are safeguarded under UK law, including the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017.

Planning authorities, including Denbighshire County Council, may request a bat survey if there is a potential risk of disturbing bat habitats. In such cases, appropriate ecological assessments and mitigation strategies must be implemented to support the planning application and avoid delays or refusals.

Collington Winter Environmental provides professional ecological consultancy services tailored to meet these requirements. Our team of licensed ecologists has extensive experience conducting bat and other protected species surveys and holds Natural England Protected Species Licences, ensuring legal compliance while supporting sustainable development.

Bat surveys should be undertaken during the active season, from May to September, when bat presence and activity in North Wales can be accurately assessed. Where roosting bats are suspected, winter surveys may also be needed to determine whether hibernating bats are present.

Further guidance on bat conservation in Wales can be found through organisations such as the Bat Conservation Trust.

The type of survey performed will depend on what our ecological consultants deem appropriate. This can include the following:

• Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA): Visual inspections of the building, searching for evidence of bat activity, such as bat droppings, staining, or access points.
• Dusk & Dawn Surveys: Monitoring of bat emergence and re-entry using thermal imaging and acoustic detectors.
• Nocturnal Surveys: Nighttime monitoring of bat flight paths, feeding patterns, and species identification through echolocation.

To arrange a bat survey, Ruthin with an experienced ecologist, contact our team at info@collingtonwinter.co.uk. We also offer ecological surveys for a wide range of species, including great crested newts. Additionally, we are happy to provide Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEAs), and landscape architecture services throughout the region.