Doug Blease

Be aware of nesting birds utilising the dense crowns or cavities in the stem.

good eye

 

A special place that I have a great love of

I free-climbed them all extensively in my youth. I recognised them immediately.

Hope you're keeping an eye on them for me- I'm a long way from them now.

Is the industry now settled on Kretzchmaria rather than Ustulina? Last I heard it was still undecided.

I personally prefer the latter.

Tony, where are the old Yews? They look a little like the yews at Kingley Vale in West Sussex.

I saw one or two in the local river last year but only from a distance of about 60yds (from the bedroom window infact!) but have walked the river banks with my camera since but never found them.

 

Have you got any tips where to look and at what time of day, Matt?

I would say, find an area where the otter is regularly frequenting. You'll maybe see prints, spraint, couch or an unusually green stone amongst other normal coloured ones.

Scope out a viewing position (your bedroom window!- you wont get much better than that!). I often climb a small tree and sit in the canopy. Arrive a couple of hours before sunrise, get yourself into position and be extremely patient/quiet.

Other tips would be not to wear deodorant, and use a scarf to stop the moon reflecting off your face.

Your otter may have left the main river system in order to give birth. So with any luck, she may return with a couple of new arrivals!

Otters are known as one of the most difficult species to watch but when you get a chance it will be breathtaking. Have you thought of contacting your local wildlife groups? They might have camera traps and other toys to play with.

Also we should all upload sightings to local biodiversity recording departments and the National Biodiversity Network. That way ecologists can use accurate background info to inform surveys and management of habitats.

I listened to Henry present this at the BCT Scottish Conference. An absolutely brilliant key for all those considering bats in trees. I very much look forward to using it. Thanks Henry, if your reading this!

I totally agree. I hadn't seen the post requesting comments so I think I will pass them on, thanks.

HCR, I think we're on the same page here. However I think that the habitats regs course is probably a higher level training course. I thought the RA one was ideal or people who had never tackled risk assessments before.

Anyway, I believe it's AA subs time again. So ideal time for a chat.

Interesting comments about the IEEM. I joined coming up for 10 years ago and in some ways you do get more - I think the journal is excellent for example. However, the training days are quite expensive (a Habitat Regs assessment day that I wouldn't mind going to next month is £225) whereas an AA training day pitched at roughly the same level (Risk Assessment for Commercial Arboriculture) is only £100.

I have done the AA risk assessment course. It's a good course for the money but I don't think it's a comparable subject to the Hab. Regs. course.

For reference, I have attended both AA and IEEM courses and found that I get much more value for money from the IEEM ones. But my cynicism is biased due to the AA not running Scottish courses. Even the Scottish section AGM this year is on the Border (rolling my eyes!).

Doug

You can't just get an EPS licence. You need to demonstrate knowledge, competency, CPD record and references.

Also you don't need an EPS licence to undertake most phase 1, non intrusive surveys, such as bat activity surveys.

Honestly, all you need to do is affiliate yourself to a good organisation or cause, start reading up on a subject and get networking. Simples.

Many thanks.

Join the IEEM. Its a positive network of ecologists and it will open new CPD opportunities to you and expose you to other ecologists.

Doug

I am a member (Tech.Arbor.A). I enjoy the periodicals, the staff are helpful over the phone. Adam Reidi is an excellent scottish secretary.

However as a scottish member, we do not benefit from a healthy CPD calendar and the scottish section had to ask nicely if a BS5837 seminar could be held north of the border. Prior to that, the scottish membership appeared to have been ignored in the seminar roadshow.

I note that the recent CPD calendar announcements in the publication still lacks any Scottish events. It makes the membership fee of £140ish per year a bit of a bitter pill. Basically a very expensive seasonal magazine?

I compare this too IEEM (I am a member for my ecology interests). My equivalent grade membership costs £50 per year. The publications are bigger and better and the other benefits are equal to the AA. Their CPD calendar is still dominated by the English sector however there is at least one event in Scotland most seasons. IEEM is more of a community where members are encouraged to share knowledge, whereas I feel the AA is a following.

In 2013 I will likely re-join the AA however I would like Scotland to be granted better access to the wider resource. After all, I could take the £140 and spend it directly on CPD courses which make me practically better at my discplines. I could pay for two IEEM courses every year for that price, or spend the money increasing my literature collection.

The AA isnt currently helping me be a better Arboriculturalist.

Doug

Hi chaps,

I have thoroughly enjoyed this thread and others. I always learn something new and I like to think that I am of the 'retain and manage' camp rather than the panic and fell. The scientist in me naturally questions situations and observations.

Could the mycologists recommend some literature on this type of thinking/managment. I have a selection, but you may suggest some good reading which I havent found.

Doug

Can anyone help me find a copy of this? Mine has disintegrated.

I knew the AA had taken over sale of the reseach series but TSO say it has fallen out of print because the copyrights have lapsed.

Not sure if this means that here is a new edition on the way?

I read the previous thread about it and was surprised to see that there is still a lot of petty bickering over nothing on this forum, the reason why I no-longer really check in on it too often. Is this really the continued general philosophy of a network of arborists?

Anyway, if anyone can give any new info on the subject, I would appreciate it - without the bickering please.

Doug

Tony,

That is a massive help, thank you so much. Have a good evening.

Doug

Thanks Tony,

Ganoderma pfeifferi.

Was there anything distinctive about these old crusty ones which pointed you in that direction?

Doug

Hopefully they have attached.

Any help on ID would be greatly appreciated.

Present at the base of an over mature Beech. Also suspected fire damage on root flare and stem.

Doug

How many climbers have taken the time to attend a bat awareness course?

 

How many arbs have a decent book on the subject of bats and their ecology?

 

The truth of the matter is whatever the stats it isnt enough, and one course isnt enough to get one bat ready, you need to read the books before and after attending. I might even suggest that the bat courses are of less value than actualy getting involved with a bat group for a coupe of evenings in the summer.

 

Experience is something you cant buy, only gain, it is down to the individual to do the right things and really take this issue seriously.

 

I wouldnt mind betting that the assumption above regarding the climbers better knowledge on such issues is accurate, so the question HAS to be asked "who does the quotes and inspections and are THEY qualified to do the survey?" the answer is in most cases a resounding NO.

 

The truth is we are unlikely to come across bats in the average tree other than lone males hiding in smaller features like loose bark plates or hazard beams (a particular favourite) However just about any veteran tree with decays and hollows with a sunny disposition to the cavity wall is likely to house a group of females with pups at some point either now, in the past or in the future. These maternity roosts must be given the highest priority, not just if attended but in perpetuity, for these are rare places, and too many are being lost.

 

I am certainly also not surprised by the bats in stump comment above, if there is one thing you can be certain of is that if there is no suitable places they will use less favourable ones.

 

I would say if your serious about taking care about bats, then there are certain things to be acutely aware of. These should help evaluate quickly when it is a serious potential as opposed to just a rare possibility.

 

First and foremost get onto the bat conservation trust and find out if there is a local group in your area, theres a lot of folk into bats, they are a strange breed that live by night, but are not a rare species, surprisingly bats are a popular wildlife hobby, Weirdly more so with women, its true!

 

if your near to ancient woodland be on High alert, as with field edges and especially those with old hedgrows on their boundaries, within a mile of a watercourse is also prime especially with Daubentons which feed over water, this is also Pip territory as they feed on mozzis/knats a lot. ive found Daubenton roosts upto a mile from water in a simple old dead beech in an old woodpecker roost, Five of the buggers!

 

Old towns, like those picture perfect market towns with the odd thatch roof, watch out, they will be EVERYWHERE! I kid you not.

 

thinking about it it is long overdue I put some bat books into bookclub and will make that a priority.

 

Just be alert, do all you can, thats all anyone can ask, take some time to understand them, the preferences they have their ecology etc and one thing I promise you is that youll find yourself admiring these little mammals, for they are a highly intelligent and very diverse group, the most diverse group of mammals in fact.

 

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Hama,

Good points.

I would raise the idea that protected species/habitat legislation (i.e.bats/owls etc) which may cover trees should be mentioned in LANTRA's chainsaw courses? Not in depth, but an awareness at least.

I dont think all arb contractors must own books on the ecological science behind such species. You are right, one course does not make an expert, but it would raise awareness, which is all that is required in the case of contracting arborists. For ecological assessment, a qualified and professionally accredited ecologist should always be consulted.

In my opinion, our professional associations should have a much stronger link to the likes of the BCT and other wildlife trusts.

Your habitat awareness is spot on but not far reaching enough. Bat roosts come in all different forms (i.e. summer/hibernacula/maternal/trasitional/swarming site etc) can be found at much greater distances from optimal foraging habitats due to the use of stepping stones in the wider landscape (often trees).

Out of interest, has your interest in bats grown with your interests in tree physiology?

Doug

Sorry for the late reply on this, I dont often check the forum.

David, having worked as a freelance climber for a number of years it would be my opinion that it would be the main contractor/ manager/business owner's responsibility to consider the wildlife legislation prior to beginning works. I would say at the same time as completing the Risk Assessment.

You as the operator are simply employed to undertake the operations you are qualified to undertake. Having an interest in it and flagging it up is your duty but the final decision comes back to the main contractor/manager/foreman.

This is only my opinon.

Very impressive application of managment where so many would have to simply fell and replace to avoid liability issues.

Always a challenge guys, but VERY easily avoidable.

Before undertaking works, the client should be made aware of the legal obligations regarding working on a tree. Wildlife legislation is part of this.

You need to assess the cavities of the tree, initially from ground level.

If the tree has no cavities, be aware that bats can be found under lifting bark, or in tight unions or other defects.

If the tree has the potential to accomodate roosting bats, then you should investigate further with the guidance of a professional ecologist. The ecologist can then advise you as to suitable mitigation measures.

In situations where you have inadvertantly destroyed a bat roost, theoretically you have committed an offence. Up until recently, honest people who do the right thing and halt works and report it have been respcted by the regulators and they have helped make the best of a bad situation.

This is quickly not becoming the case. Our industry now offers sufficient CPD courses on bats and wildlife legislation and really there isnt any excuse not to know about the legal framework regarding forestry and arb works. Regulators are unlikely to be so accomodating of innocent ignorance. You are now expected to consider these constraints on a daily basis and it is your responsibility to communicate them to your client.

My advice is to join a local Bat Group and get some free experience anf knowledge of bat ecology. Secondly, undertake some sort of formal training course with BCT/AA/IEEM etc.

Thirdly, contact a respectable ecologist, ensuring that they are suitably qualified and a member if IEEM, ensuring that they are impartial and of a high quality. Create a network with them where they may require your tree/ climbing skills and you will require their guidance....its all business after all and in everyones best interest.

Fourthly, dont think it wont happen to you. It is almost inevitable that regular tree workers will be constrained by wildlife legislation at some point.

So in summary, if you follow the simple guidelines, it should cover you in all cases. I am actively working with contractors regarding bats an trees and all seem to be very receptive to new ideas. There is a lot of scope for tree works to help mitigate development impacts and improve ecological connectivity and green infrastructure.

There are studies to suggest that where lighting is involved, bats will predate on a lower range of species, causing a severe local reduction in particular prey species.

From my experience, Pipistrelle sp. are more tolerant of lighting. I have even located a roost directly above a large security light which illuminated an entire quadrant.

Mackrel are abundant, and therefore the seals are exploiting them and likely a range of other species. If we werent polluting or over fishing our seas, there would be plenty for everyone.

Dont be hard on bats. When considering trees - it is you that is invading their habitat, so be respectful.

For those that havent encountered bats during tree work, please be aware that they only need a cavity with an opening of around 20mm to enter/exit the roost feature. So unless you only work with juvenile sycamore.......it is highly unlikely that you havent cut or felled or disturbed a potential bat roost at some time.

Not considering bats when planning tree operations is irresponsible and you are running the risk of breaking the law, so get up to speed with it. Happy to help where possible.

I am glad people are starting to think 'BAT?' before felling.

This cavity looks unlikely as it is wet, but you can never say NO bats, especially from a photo. The language should be 'low, or negligible potential'. Just because a bat isnt at home the day you check, doesnt mean its not a bat roost.

The BCT bat survey guidelines are available as a free download and it contains a chapter specifically on trees which should help you categorise tree roost potential. However, the regulator (NE, SNH, LPA) will require an experienced/qualified eye to catagorically state the potential of a tree to host bats.

The law is very clear and although unliked by some contractors - it is in place to protect sensitive species on a European scale.

By this I mean, some may think that certain bat species are abundant in the UK, but this is not the case on an international scale, therfore we should adhere to the legislation and as people who work in potential bat habitats on a daily basis, we should welcome the opportunity to make a positive difference to biodiversity.

A really useful set of pictures. Thanks very much.