PROCEDURES - GETTING THE JOB DONE
A Bat roost is interpreted as ‘any structure or place, which is used for shelter or protection,’ whether or not bats are present at the time. If the trees appear to have significant potential to contain a bat roost it may be necessary to take advice from a consultant and a survey may be required prior to the completion of any work.
The above will limit and may prohibit certain tree pruning or felling work during spring and summer. The RSPB consider the annual bird nesting season to be between mid March and August, but there are often exceptions to this and care must be taken throughout the year as birds take advantage of our milder climate. Bats will use roost sites in trees between April and September, depending on weather conditions. Some species may hibernate in large old trees. It is almost impossible to eliminate the possibility that bats may be using certain tree features, so it is essential that arborists are trained to recognise the signs of use and that procedures are in place to deal with the discovery of a roost site with a bat inside. |
