Bats

[biggarlogs]

Just had a call from a regular client who wants 2 big beeches felled.the trees are badly diseased and are in rapid decline.the local council has stipulated that a bat survey must be carried out and if given the all clear the trees Must be felled within 48 hours.is this normal?as not come across this before. There are no signs of bats in these trees or indeed neighbouring trees. Thanks lads

[Thesnarlingbadger]

I've heard similar in the past I think if the trees are 'prime bad nest' type trees they want the survey done then them taken down asap so bats don't have a chance to nest post survey.

It may have something to do with time of year as well.

[stihlmadasever]

Yeah prime bat habitat so LA would demand a survey and a time limit as too when the trees are to be removed, to prevent protected species taking up residence

[Andymacp]

What I've had to do in the past is seal all the bat potential holes up after they've been endoscoped.

I wouldn't say either is any sort of requirement just good practice.

[daltontrees]

Just had a call from a regular client who wants 2 big beeches felled.the trees are badly diseased and are in rapid decline.the local council has stipulated that a bat survey must be carried out and if given the all clear the trees Must be felled within 48 hours.is this normal?as not come across this before. There are no signs of bats in these trees or indeed neighbouring trees. Thanks lads

 

The new BS8596 allows for a greatly simplified survey (non-specialist scoping survey) to be done to establish if there is low or negiligible risk of disturbing bat roosts. It's a combination of age, condition, species and position of trees and proximity to bat foraging areas. If this is all-clear, practices vary but the ecologists I work with generally say an all-clear buys you about 2 weeks to get in and remove the trees. This is not in the British Standard but it would seem to be a reasonably defensible position.

 

I'm not touting for business but I have undergone the bat awareness training required by the British standard and if you are stuck for an all-clear I will coincidentally be in the Borders on Wednesday to Saturday on tree survey and could possibly do you a scoping survey. It's a written report, barely a page, minimal charge if it's an all-clear, slightly higher charge if a climb (possiblly with endoscope) is required. And a verbal OK on the day if appropriate.

 

And to answer the question, a time limit is normal but 2 days is I believe unnecessarily stringent.

 

PM if you want or carry on discussing here.

[daltontrees]

What I've had to do in the past is seal all the bat potential holes up after they've been endoscoped.

I wouldn't say either is any sort of requirement just good practice.

 

I've domne this once, but you need to be absolutely sure it's an empty roost and not the only one available in the area. Obstructing a roost is tantamount to destroying it, which is indefensible. So I am told, but it seems consistent with the legislation.

[Andymacp]

Aye that was always a concern

[caledonian bob]

The new BS8596 allows for a greatly simplified survey (non-specialist scoping survey) to be done to establish if there is low or negiligible risk of disturbing bat roosts. It's a combination of age, condition, species and position of trees and proximity to bat foraging areas. If this is all-clear, practices vary but the ecologists I work with generally say an all-clear buys you about 2 weeks to get in and remove the trees. This is not in the British Standard but it would seem to be a reasonably defensible position.

 

I'm not touting for business but I have undergone the bat awareness training required by the British standard and if you are stuck for an all-clear I will coincidentally be in the Borders on Wednesday to Saturday on tree survey and could possibly do you a scoping survey. It's a written report, barely a page, minimal charge if it's an all-clear, slightly higher charge if a climb (possiblly with endoscope) is required. And a verbal OK on the day if appropriate.

 

And to answer the question, a time limit is normal but 2 days is I believe unnecessarily stringent.

 

PM if you want or carry on discussing here.

 

I could be wrong but I don't think the "Bat Awareness Course" qualifies you to carry out an endoscope survey, from memory I think you need the Bat Handlers Licence, It's a few years since I surveyed for bats but that was the case then. The time of year could have a lot to do with the time constraints as bats could use the smallest of cavitities for "Day Roosts"

[timbernut]

We have had to 'soft fell' trees which are possible roosts, this usually just means dismantling and gently lowering sections containing cavities/likely roosting spots (I've found pipistrelles under loose bark before) and usually in the presence of a licensed handler. The sections are left overnight and the bats find a new roost.

There are different types of roost for different times of year, winter, maternal, day etc. So you really need to know what bats are local, likely to be there and when.

As a clue to how seriously it's taken: my cousin got planning permission for a barn conversion at his place in Sussex and when a colony of ( can't remember what ) of bats was found they pulled the consent!

[Andymacp]

I could be wrong but I don't think the "Bat Awareness Course" qualifies you to carry out an endoscope survey, from memory I think you need the Bat Handlers Licence, It's a few years since I surveyed for bats but that was the case then. The time of year could have a lot to do with the time constraints as bats could use the smallest of cavitities for "Day Roosts"

 

 

Aye your right, all the awareness allows you to do is have a look then call someone qualified.