Bat Survey West Sussex: Protected Species Surveys
Bat surveys are undertaken for development sites to inform a planning application and determine presence of bats within buildings, trees and structures. The local planning authorities will usually let you know if a bat survey is required during the planning process.
A bat survey will detect the presence or likely absence of bats in a particular area so that plans can be made to proceed with a development. If bats are found to be present on a site, bat mitigation and compensation measures must be undertaken before any development work can begin. These measures may range from bat boxes to roost relocation depending on the impact the development will have on the bats.
There are many bat species which are likely to be found in West Sussex. These include, common pipistrelle bat, Noctule bat, soprano pipistrelle bat, Daubentons’ bat, Whiskered bat, Brandt’s’ bat and Nathusius’ pipistrelle bat.
In West Sussex, bat activity is highest during the summer months. Therefore, surveys can be undertaken during this time to determine the presence of roosting bats and the number of bats in the area. If bat activity is found during a bat survey in the summer months, a bat activity survey may be required during the winter to establish whether the area is also used by hibernating bats.
Bat Survey West Sussex: Types of Bat Survey
Preliminary Roost Assessment: This is the first step in the bat surveying process which involves an ecologist carrying out a site visit. They will carry out an internal and external inspection of the building looking for evidence of bats, including insect feeding remains and bat droppings.
Nocturnal bat surveys: This involves surveyors using bat detectors to record and analyse bat calls. They will be either dusk emergence surveys (when bats are leaving their roosts to forage) or dawn surveys (the end of the night out when all the bats return back to their roosts).
How Can Collington Winter Assist?
Collington Winter Environmental are a team of ecological consultants with extensive experience in undertaking bat and hibernating bat surveys on all types of development projects and can meet any bat survey requirements. Our Ecology Director, Olivia Collington, holds a Natural England Bat licence, and has worked with protected species across the UK alongside West Sussex bat surveyors and bat conservation trusts.
Please contact our Ecology Director Olivia Collington (Olivia.collington@collingtonwinter.co.uk) for more information on our ecological services and protected species survey work, including bat surveys and great crested newt surveys. We also provide ecological appraisal and assessment services.
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