How prevalent are Bats ?

[David Humphries]

Bat bridge.......

 

Bat Conservation Trust: A unique bridge for bats by next architects

 

 

 

 

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[kevinjohnsonmbe]

Bat bridge.......

 

Bat Conservation Trust: A unique bridge for bats by next architects

 

 

 

 

.

 

Bat conservation / consideration - A minefield if you want to try and stay within the spirit of the law.

 

Development, tree work, landscaping, farming.... Must all come into direct conflict (either intentionally or accidentally) with bat habitat. Even with some awareness or even an eco survey, it must be close to impossible to say, with 100% confidence, that our activities don't at least have the potential to contravene the law - and that's just the folks that are aware / trying to be responsible.

 

It feels like just about any tree work absolutely WILL contravene the law. The only way to carry on is to recognise that there is a reasonably low chance of being caught / prosecuted and if you did end up in court you'd be guilty as the default and desperately presenting mitigation as the only means of attempting to influence sentencing.

 

The Dutch bridge looks good, appears to have been designed and installed with considerable thought - for bats.

 

Perhaps not so much of a consideration for the environmental impact of using concrete?

 

This one: BBC NEWS | England | Cornwall | Bat bridges cost £27k per animal

 

received slightly less thought and very much appeared to have been a part of a 'box ticking' exercise - at considerable expense (and, apparently, very little value for money since it's not really used!) At a bat awareness course a while back, one of the bat boffins said it was the wrong thing, in the wrong place and that virtually no activity had been recorded.

 

The bat house at the end of the bridge: A38 Dobwalls Bypass | WBM Groundworks Ltd

 

cost £27k and as yet, remains unoccupied!

 

What a conundrum.....

[David Humphries]

Interesting links Kevin

 

I don't believe "any tree work absolutely WILL contravene the law" because if there are no potential roost features (PRF's) available then its very unlikely a tree will support any bat habitation.

 

But I think I get why you "feel" that way.

 

Have you seen/read the Bat Conservation Trusts "Bat Surveys for Professional Ecologists: Good Practice Guidelines (3rd edition)" ?

 

Although not specifically aimed at Arbs, (like BS 8596) there's still some very useful information (and perhaps mitigation) within its pages.

 

I'm still ploughing through it tbh

 

 

Free download here.....

 

Bat Surveys for Professional Ecologists: Good Practice Guidelines 3rd Edition - Bat Conservation Trust

 

 

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[timbernut]

There was a piece on anglia tv about bat bridges on the new northern bypass at Norwich and they said pretty much the same thing: virtually no evidence that they actually work

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

[Peter]

That's a great project, and it looks amazing too.

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

Interesting links Kevin

 

I don't believe "any tree work absolutely WILL contravene the law" because if there are no potential roost features (PRF's) available then its very unlikely a tree will support any bat habitation.

 

But I think I get why you "feel" that way.

 

Have you seen/read the Bat Conservation Trusts "Bat Surveys for Professional Ecologists: Good Practice Guidelines (3rd edition)" ?

 

Although not specifically aimed at Arbs, (like BS 8596) there's still some very useful information (and perhaps mitigation) within its pages.

 

I'm still ploughing through it tbh

 

 

Free download here.....

 

Bat Surveys for Professional Ecologists: Good Practice Guidelines 3rd Edition - Bat Conservation Trust

 

 

.

 

Great link - thanks for that! Just quickly read Chp 6.