Introduction
- Project description
- The gate house was part of a refurbishment scheme to create residential living space. Due to the presence of several bat species, the living accommodation was carefully isolated from the existing roosting spaces.
- Ecologist’s name and contact details
- Cotterell Thomas & Thomas LLP
- Brief site description
- Clackencombe Lodge is a Grade II* listed gate house, which is part of the Ashton Court Estate in Bristol. It is situated in a rural landscape, which includes fields, woodland and ponds.
Pre-works roost structure
- Type of structure
- Building
- Use
- Domestic Dwelling
- Condition
- In Use
- Main construction material of walls
- Stone
- Roof design
- Other
- Roof material
- Stone
- Internal roof structure
- Timber Frame
Pre-works roost description
- Species
- Greater horseshoe bat
- Number of bats max count
- Not reported
- Type of roost
- Maternity Roost
- Evidence of bats
- Bats Recorded Emerging/Re-entering
- Roost location
- In Roof Void
- Aspect of roost
- various
- Height of roost entrance (m)
- Various
- Roost material(s)
-
- Nearest commuting feature
- Hedge
- Distance to nearest commuting feature (m)
- Not reported
Proposed works
- Description of works
- The gate house was part of a refurbishment scheme to create residential living space. The aim was to create living accommodation alongside the bat roosts, allowing the bats to continue using the building.
The living accommodation was therefore isolated from designated bat areas, which were subsequently enhanced for maternity use.
- Type of impact upon the roost
- Temporary Damage and Loss of Roost
Proposed mitigations
- Type of mitigation
- Mitigation
- Specific technical detail of measure
- The existing bat areas included access to full roof void, ensuring its full length was available for 'light testing'. One tower was allocated for bats by creating a route from the roof to the ground-level single story modern extension. This was modified to provide roosting ledges and a maternity environment. All windows and doors were removed from the extension and the building disguised with planting. Its interior layout was design by a bat consultant. Bespoke exits and entrances were provided into the roof and tower. Canopy cover was maintained from the building to the adjacent woodland. Materials: Extension - breeze block. Roof exit - lead. Tower entrance - timber.
- Relevant annotated figures
- Roost location
- In Roof Void
- Aspect of roost
- S
- Height of roost entrance (m)
- Not reported
- Roost material(s)
-
- Brickwork
- Timber Roof Frame
- Nearest commuting feature
- Hedge
- Distance to nearest commuting feature (m)
- Not reported
- Photos or annotated figures of roost
Actual mitigations implemented
- Type of mitigation
- Mitigation
- Specific technical detail of measure
- The existing bat areas included access to full roof void, ensuring its full length was available for 'light testing'. One tower was allocated for bats by creating a route from the roof to the ground-level single story modern extension. This was modified to provide roosting ledges and a maternity environment. All windows and doors were removed from the extension and the building disguised with planting. Its interior layout was design by a bat consultant. Bespoke exits and entrances were provided into the roof and tower. Canopy cover was maintained from the building to the adjacent woodland. Materials: Extension - breeze block. Roof exit - lead. Tower entrance - timber.
- Relevant annotated figures
- Roost location
- In Roof Void
- Aspect of roost
- S
- Height of roost entrance (m)
- Not reported
- Roost material(s)
-
- Brickwork
- Nearest commuting feature
- Hedge
- Distance to nearest commuting feature (m)
- Not reported
- Photos or annotated figures of roost
Monitoring data
- Length of monitoring proposed
- Not reported.
- Frequency of monitoring
- A camera was installed for ongoing monitoring.
- Type of monitoring
- Roost Inspection
- Evidence recorded
- There has been a measured increase in the number of bats using the building. The maternity section is in use.
- Interventions made
- None reported
