Bat Surveys

All bats in the UK are protected against disturbance, harm and destruction of places where they are known to roost. However the presence of bats does not mean that development of a site is not possible.

  • Roof Inspection surveys can take place throughout the year to identify if suitable bat roosting habitat is present.
  • Past or Present use of a roosting site can be identified by looking for signs such as droppings, rub marks, staining and feeding remains.
  • Between May and September we use specialist equipment to detect bats emerging from roost locations or using flight paths.

There are 17 resident breeding bat species in the UK, which makes up almost a quarter of our native mammal species. Southern England has the most diverse collection of bat species owing to its slightly warmer climate and particularly in Surrey and Sussex because of the high relative percentage of mature woodland cover.

Historically bats would only roost within the cracks and crevices of old trees and natural caves but these species have evolved alongside human beings and many species are now highly reliant upon man-made structures for roosting, hibernating and breeding. As a result these intelligent and adaptable mammals have found homes in barns, sheds, residential property and commercial buildings.

 

 

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Historically bats would only roost within the cracks and crevices of old trees and natural caves but these species have evolved alongside human beings and many species are now highly reliant upon man made structures for roosting, hibernating and breeding.