Bat Survey Wolverhampton: Protected Species Surveys

A bat survey, Wolverhampton, forms part of the environmental commitments a new development project must adhere to for their planning applications. In accordance with local planning regulations, sites must complete many forms of ecological surveys to make sure it is possible to maintain a healthy level of ecological welfare for the site. Nationwide and in Wolverhampton, bat surveys form part of these necessary assessments to determine the steps to take to create a safe and harmonious bat-friendly environment.

Supported by important legislation such as The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, local planning authorities, for example, the City of Wolverhampton Council, may interrupt a project and withhold planning permission if they believe the protection of bats has been neglected.

As a result and in accordance with national law, it 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 developers may seek for their site, including surveys for roosting bats and other bat habitats.

Bat activity surveys for development in Wolverhampton should take place between May and September, as this season witnesses the height of bat activity across England and Wales. If evidence of bat activity is recorded during the summertime, wintertime surveys are recommended at the earliest opportunity to assess for any hibernating bats.

Further Advice regarding commonly spotted UK bat species and bat activity in the City of Wolverhampton can be found on the Bat Conservation Trust website.

There are various methods of conducting a bat survey, all of which depend on the specific needs of your development. Later, this information helps our bat ecologists build a bat mitigation strategy:

Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA): The initial survey often conducted is a preliminary bat roost assessment. This is to assess whether bats are likely to be roosting in a building or structure. The consultant will perform both internal and external inspections of the development site, looking for all signs of bat activity, such as droppings, urine stains, or visible entry/exit points.

Dusk and Dawn Emergence Surveys: If bat activity is suspected following the preliminary survey, more detailed emergence and re-entry surveys are often needed. These surveys provide key information about bat behaviour, roost locations, and feeding habits.

• Dusk surveys are conducted during sunset to observe when bats leave their roosts, while dawn re-entry surveys occur at sunrise to monitor their return.
• The use of equipment such as thermal imaging cameras and automated bat detectors helps collect data without causing a disturbance.

Nocturnal Bat Surveys: Since bats are active during the night and rely on echolocation, nocturnal surveys are highly effective at observing their nighttime behaviour patterns. These surveys allow consultants to track bat movements, feeding areas, and flight paths.

Once the surveys are completed, our ecology team will provide a bat mitigation report to support developers on their ecological commitments for their projects. This will entail:

• A list of recommendations for mitigation, which could include steps to protect the bats during construction, such as the installation of bat-friendly features like roosting sites or boxes.
• Suggestions for the timing of construction to avoid key periods for bat activity, such as during breeding or hibernation seasons.
• Advice on how best to proceed with the development to minimise any impact on bat populations.

Collington Winter Environmental is a North West ecological consultancy with a wealth of experience in conducting protected species surveys across England and further afield in Scotland and Wales. Our team holds Natural England bat mitigation class licences and European Protected Species Licences, allowing us to collaborate with bat conservation trusts and bat groups to protect and manage species throughout the nation. When it comes to ecological surveys, we prioritise a strategic and efficient approach, ensuring minimal delays and no inconvenience to local authorities or wildlife.

Please get in touch with our Managing Director Olivia Collington (info@collingtonwinter.co.uk) for more information on other locations where we perform ecological assessment work, such as Birmingham. Additionally, we take on other types of Environmental impact work, such as great crested newt surveys and badger surveys. We also provide landscape architectural services alongside preliminary ecological appraisals (PEA).