PBA Applied Ecology
PBA Applied Ecology

Bats

PBA Applied Ecology’s team of ecologists have the necessary licences and experience to design and deliver a variety of bat related services tailored to meet your needs. We are able to carry out bat scoping surveys, bat roost emergence/re-entry surveys, bat transect activity surveys, bat hibernation surveys and tree climbing inspections. These surveys are used to inform detailed reports suitable for submission as part of a planning application, and where necessary European Protected Species Mitigation Licence Applications.   

What services do we offer?

Our bat team have experience completing a wide range of surveys and reports suitable for submission as part of a planning application, these include:

  • Bat Scoping Assessments – Year round 

  • Roost emergence/re-entry surveys – May to September

  • Bat transect activity surveys – April to September

  • Bat hibernation surveys – November to February

  • European Protected Species Mitigation Licence Application – Natural England take 6 to 10 weeks to process applications which can only be submitted once planning permission has been granted. 

Legislation protecting bats

All the UK’s bat species are protected by UK and European Legislation including the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. Under these Acts it is a criminal offence to deliberately or recklessly kill or injure a wild bat, intentionally or recklessly disturb a bat roost, damage or destroy a bat roost even if bats are not occupying the roost at the time, and intentionally or recklessly obstruct access to a bat roost.  

Do I need a bat survey?

If your project has the potential to impact bats, their roosts, or foraging habitat then you are likely to require some form of bat survey. Projects which involve modifying buildings, bridges or trees all have the potential to impact bats. 

A bat scoping assessment is the first stage in determining whether bats or their roosts will be impacted on by your proposed works. This assessment aims to establish whether bats are likely to roost within the structure/tree, and whether these roosts will be impacted on by the proposed works. This survey may recommend further surveys to establish what species of bats are present and how bats use the structure/tree. 

If you have any queries regarding the services your project may require, please contact our Terrestrial team specialists.