Bat Survey Sussex
What is a bat survey?
Bat activity surveys may be required for some developments to assist with planning applications during the planning permission process to find out whether the development has potential to impact bats in the area. Typically, the local planning authority will let you know whether a bat survey is required for the proposed work. The need for bat surveys could also be identified during a PEA survey.
Bat ecological surveys detect presence of bats or the likely absence of bats within the development area so that the planning and development process can proceed. If the survey for planning applications finds that there is evidence of bats within close proximity to a development site, the good news is that the development may still be able to proceed, as long as bat mitigation measures and compensation measures are undertaken.
These measures are required as all bats, including bat roosts within trees, are protected species under the Wildlife and countryside Act, and they are also a European protected species. Therefore, it is illegal to kill, harm or disturb bats in any way.
Bat activity in Sussex
In Sussex, bat activity is at its peak during the summer months. Therefore, this is the best time of year to carry out survey work to determine the presence of roosting bats.
The many species of bats based in Sussex are Brown Long-eared bats, Common Pipistrelle bats, Natterer’s bats, Daubenton’s bats, Whiskered and Brandt’s bats.
Bat survey Sussex: Types of bat survey
There are two types of bat surveys that can help you to discover which bat species are present. The first is a preliminary roost assessment which involves an Ecology Consultant carrying out a site visit. Bat surveyors will carry out both an internal and external inspection of the building, looking for evidence of potential roosting sites, including insect feeding remains as well as bat droppings, to produce a bat report.
The second type are nocturnal bat emergence surveys involve bat surveyors using bat detectors to record and analyse bat calls. When the surveyors have completed a bat survey, they will operate either when bats are present and leaving their roosts to forage (dusk emergence surveys) or when the bats return to their roost locations (dawn surveys) to determine the number of bats.
How can Collington Winter assist?
Collington Winter Environmental, we are an experienced ecological consultancy with extensive knowledge in undertaking bat and hibernating bat surveys using good practice guidelines. Our Ecology Director, Olivia Collington, has worked with protected species throughout the UK, including East Sussex and West Sussex and holds a Natural England bat licence.
Please contact our Ecology Director Olivia Collington via email (Olivia.collington@collingtonwinter.co.uk) for information on protected species surveys, including bats and great crested newts. We also provide ecological appraisal and assessment services. We will endeavour to get back to any queries within one working day.
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