BS8596 ‘surveying for bats in trees and woodland’

[daltontrees]

Partrick has posted this on other sites.

I'm sure he'll update here, but in the meantime here is a link to the new BS 8596:2015 Surveying for bats in trees and woodland.

 

BS 8596 - Surveying for bats in trees and woodland. Guide | BSI

 

Also a link to the BSi micro guide which is aimed at non bat specialists, which is free to download.

 

http://shop.bsigroup.com/forms/Bat-Microguide--BS-8596--BSI-Group/Thank-you-Bat-Microguide--BS-8596--/

 

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If anyone's interested, the Bat Conservcation Trust has just published a related 'method statement' for the non-specialist use of endoscopes for investigating potential roost features. It's available on the BCT website. It is stated as being for 'arborists', whatever they are. It dosn't appear to be a method statement, rather it is a method or methodology. Considerable adatation would be required to turn it into a method statement.

 

As a measn of helping me remember what it is for, here's my understanding.

 

a. If a tree has a known bat roost, a non-specialist (an arborist) shouldn't use an endoscope.

 

b. If a tree has a feature that can be confirmed from the ground as suitable for bats, the method shouldn't be used.

 

c. If examination can be doene by mirror and torch, don't use an endoscope.

 

d. If a tree doesn't have a known bat roost but a scoping survey from the ground has noted medium or high potential for roosting, a non-specialist (an arborist) could use an endoscope to see if the potential can be downgraded to 'low'.

 

e. If the endoscope examination is inconclusive, a licensed bat worker must take over.

 

f. If a roost is found, stop.

 

So I'd say arborists shouldn't be rushing out to buy endoscopes based on lots of new work coming up. The circumstances are so tightly constrained that endoscopic examination by a non-specialist will be rare.

 

Funny thing is, this 'method statement' was published a few weeks before the new BS, but doesn't refer to it. The Micro Guide refers to the method statement. I haven't seen the BS.

[daltontrees]

PS The usual problem with uptake of BSs is likely to apply here, the cost is prohibitive for occasional use or reference use only for the likes of us arbs. I do wish there was a way that a few of us could share the cost of a copy, I'd be up for that.

 

It kind of irks me that I spent about 15 hours commenting on the draft (it was all over the place, it took a long time to figure out what was right and what was wrong) for no reward and I have to pay to see how it has turned out. Some of my comments have made their way though to the micro-guide, and a lot of other people commented, so I can only hope the BS is substantially improved from the draft. But I aint paying £220 to find out.

 

The draft included a sectionthat would directly affect how BS5837 surveys are done, so at least anyone like me doing these has to find out what it now says.

[David Humphries]

........

 

So I'd say arborists shouldn't be rushing out to buy endoscopes based on lots of new work coming up. The circumstances are so tightly constrained that endoscopic examination by a non-specialist will be rare.

 

I'm hopeful that the BS guidance (without getting in to the debate on how expensive it is) and the micro guide, are a great step forward to where common-sense, the use of endoscopes, sounding hammers, mirrors, torches etc, are common-place tools in the arsenal of most practicing non (Bat) specialist Arbs.

 

We'll see.

 

 

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[AJStrees]

Did anyone ever get the full BS on doing bat surveys? 

 

At £254 on the BSI website its a fair chunk of cash to pay for a PDF. 

 

Otherwise has anyone got any good books on the matter? or can recommend something?

[Dan Maynard]

Presumably you have started with the microguide?

[Khriss]

Bloody hell - how much  !  Bit more money an you can do the BCT course and get their methodology.   K

[daltontrees]

On 04/05/2020 at 21:26, AJStrees said:

Did anyone ever get the full BS on doing bat surveys? 

 

At £254 on the BSI website its a fair chunk of cash to pay for a PDF. 

 

Otherwise has anyone got any good books on the matter? or can recommend something?

I've seen a copy but don't have it. I'm not planning to get it either. 90% of it is way beyond arb use i.e. it specifies specialist training or qualifications. You'd need to be an ecologist to use some parts of it, and a bat license for other bits. But crucially, ecologists don't use it anyway, they prefer the BCT methods.

Are you looking to do surveys professionally? If so, the very minimum you'll require is bat awareness training and the microguide. I do about 1 report a month, and have found that the microguide is not enough to sign off reports confidently and competently. A more thorough grounding in the BCT methodology, records of local bat populations, habitat awareness and a  bit of experience in ruling out unsuitable features is needed. If a client relies on your report for a planning application, you need to be able to back up your findings at appeal.

[daltontrees]

13 hours ago, Khriss said:

Bloody hell - how much  !  Bit more money an you can do the BCT course and get their methodology.   K

The BCT methodology is free. The microguide is free. Bat awareness training is about £140. Worth doing the endoscope training too.

[Khriss]

7 hours ago, daltontrees said:

The BCT methodology is free. The microguide is free. Bat awareness training is about £140. Worth doing the endoscope training too.

Their course gives you a level of defendable work practise and adequately bridges the gap ( cos Nothing is certain with Bats !  ) between yr Licensed Handler ( who usually cannot climb trees ) an yr Haix Hero would wouldn't know a Bat if it bit them ! Enjoyable couple of days an i think i paid £340 or summat  . K