The British Standard for surveying bats in trees and woodlands – available for comment

BS 8596 has now been made available for public comment, and BCT would very much welcome your input. Comments need to be made by 31 May 2015 using BSI's Draft Review System (Click here).

BS 8596 will have an accompanying free Micro Guide aimed at non-specialists and the panel is working with BSI to refine the text in time for its publication with BS 8596.

Brief background

In December 2013 the first very rough draft of the standard went to an early consultation group of key stakeholders to invite comment, with that period of consultation closing in February 2014. This was an additional stage to the normal BSI process at the request of this standards panel to allow those with the greatest insight into the subject to have a role in the early shaping of the document. Thank you to those of you who took part.

All the comments received as an outcome of the early consultation exercise have been reviewed and the document has been aligned with these wherever possible. The standard has changed from the more formal 'code of practice' to a 'guide' and document format changed to take account of this.