Roost visits can only be organised by the National Bat Helpline who will provide you with a case reference number and details of the case. If you would like to organise a visit to a roost, please have the contact at the property contact the Helpline directly to organise it.
Please find below key documents that will help you with your roost visit.
Roost report forms (RRF)
Following your roost visit please complete the relevant RRF as soon as possible and return it to roostreports@bats.org.uk.
Submitting a clear and informative RRF is a vital step in the roost visit process. Please find our guidance for filling out an excellent RRF, alongside some examples of best practice, by clicking here.
PLEASE NOTE: Natural England’s Privacy Notice has been updated. The back page of the current RRF is now out-of-date. Helpline send the new version of the Privacy Notice in advance of their visit so there is no need to give leave a copy of the Privacy Notice with them at the visit. If needed, the current Privacy Notice for the Bat Advice Service can be found here.
Health and safety documents
Below is the Risk Assessment for the VBRV role (dated August 2022). This should be used to guide your usual risk assessment /management of each visit and includes covid-19 guidance. Roost owners are responsible for their own health and safety during the visit, however the attached guidance document has some tips for them on how to stay safe. You must not ask the roost contact to do anything that is in violation of this guidance. Any additional risks you identify above & beyond those already noted on the Risk Assessment should be noted in the H&S section of the RRF.
Incidents (near hit or accident) must be reported immediately using the Natural England Telephone report line 0300 060 0100. Natural England's full Operational Health & Safety Guidance for VBRVs can be downloaded here. Please also see the below ‘Safe Systems of Work’ which summarises the most frequent Health & Safety incidents on roost visits with some helpful hints to keep you safe.
If you have any questions about these documents, please contact Natural England directly.
