Introduction
- Project description
- Demolition of existing property and re-build of replacement dwelling.
- Ecologist’s name and contact details
- Richard Green Ecology Ltd
- Planning authority
- Taunton Deane DC
- Brief site description
- A detached domestic dwelling in a rural area of somerset, adjoining a garden and another domestic residence.
Pre-works roost structure
- Type of structure
- Building
- Use
- Domestic Dwelling
- Condition
- In Use
- Approx. age
- 80 years.
- Main construction material of walls
- Stone
- Roof design
- Hipped
- Roof material
- Clay Tiled
- Internal roof structure
- Timber Frame
- Photos or annotated figures of roost structure
Pre-works roost description
- Species
- Brown long-eared bat
- Number of bats max count
- 12
- Type of roost
- Maternity Roost
- Evidence of bats
- Bats Seen in Roost
- Roost location
- In Roof Void
- Aspect of roost
- SW
- Height of roost entrance (m)
- 5m
- Roost material(s)
-
- Bitumen Felt
- Slate Tiles
- Timber Roof Frame
- Nearest commuting feature
- Woodland
- Distance to nearest commuting feature (m)
- 20m
- Photos or annotated figures of roost
Proposed works
- Description of works
- Demolish roost outside of maternity period. Provide replacement roost in advance of roost demolition. Demolition undertaken in April under ecological watching brief to avoid killing or injury of bats. Two BLE bats moved to replacement roost
- Type of impact upon the roost
- Long-Term Roost Modification and Roost Loss
Proposed mitigations
- Type of mitigation
- Compensation
- Specific technical detail of measure
- Modifications to derelict outbuilding in garden adjacent to woodland. These included a new slate roof and bat access in advance of roost demolition. Following demolition, stained roof timbers were incorporated into the replacement roost, along with droppings from the original roost.
Size: Approx. 6m long x 3m wide x 4m high to ridge
Materials: Brick, slate roof over bituminous felt
Additional info: Stained roof timbers from original roost bolted to ridge at hip ends to attract bats, along with droppings from original roost
- Relevant annotated figures
- Roost location
- Bat House
- Aspect of roost
- N
- Height of roost entrance (m)
- Up to 4m
- Roost material(s)
-
- Bitumen Felt
- Slate Tiles
- Timber Roof Frame
- Nearest commuting feature
- Woodland
- Distance to nearest commuting feature (m)
- Not reported
- Photos or annotated figures of roost
Actual mitigations implemented
- Type of mitigation
- Compensation
- Specific technical detail of measure
- Modifications to derelict outbuilding in garden adjacent to woodland. These included a new slate roof and bat access in advance of roost demolition. Following demolition, stained roof timbers were incorporated into the replacement roost, along with droppings from the original roost.
Size: Approx. 6m long x 3m wide x 4m high to ridge
Materials: Brick, slate roof over bituminous felt
Additional info: Stained roof timbers from original roost bolted to ridge at hip ends to attract bats, along with droppings from original roost
- Relevant annotated figures
- Roost location
- Other
- Aspect of roost
- Various
- Height of roost entrance (m)
- Up to 4m
- Roost material(s)
-
- Bitumen Felt
- Slate Tiles
- Timber Roof Frame
- Nearest commuting feature
- Woodland
- 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
- Not reported
- Type of monitoring
- Dusk and Dawn Survey
- Date and time
- 1st September 2010
- Evidence recorded
- Bats started using replacement roost as a maternity roost in summer 2010 and have done every summer since. Approx 15-20 bats in cluster recorded Sep 2010. Signs first appeared 6-8 months after completion (over winter).
- Interventions made
- It was recommended to prune a beech tree above the replacement roost to allow more solar gain. This has not been done but might improve conditions in the roof if it were.
Final details
- Lessons learned
- Use of stained timbers may have resulted in quick uptake by bats.
