Bat Emergence Survey. Summary of Recommendations

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2 Bat Emergence Survey Summary of Recommendations If bats, evidence of their activity and suitable locations for roosting bats, are all absent from the site, then no further visits are normally required (Hundt 2012). Taking into consideration the desk study, initial assessment bat survey and site survey findings, this report concludes that the proposed development of the site presents a low probability of harm to bats. Caution should be observed during works and should a bat be unexpectedly found work should stop and further advice sought. 2

3 The Company and Contact Information Established in 2005, Arbtech Consulting Limited provides arboricultural and ecological consultancy services in respect to planning and development, throughout the UK. Tel @arbtech.co.uk Web The Surveyor The principal author of this report is Mrs. Jo Gregory BA (Hons) MSc GradCIEEM. Other Surveyors Ross James. Bat Licence Numbers England: CLS Scotland: Wales: 56199:OTH:CSAB:2014 The Client The client is Mr. J Whitfield. The Site of Proposed Development The client is preparing a planning application at to convert a barn at Jaytail Farm, Holden Lane, Keighley, West Yorkshire BD20 5RL. 3

4 The Survey Brief The client has commissioned Arbtech to undertake a bat emergence survey; referring to a method of ecological assessment outlined in the Bat Conservation Trust publication Bat Surveys Good Practice Guidelines authored by L. Hundt, These guidelines state that the aim of the bat survey is to observe and catalogue informing and identifying the type and extent of work needed (if any) (Hundt 2012). Controls This survey provides a snap-shot of the potential habitat and wildlife value of the sites at the time of survey only and may require further survey effort to provide robust, scientifically valid evidence of species absence. Data Searches Arbtech advises all clients that the incorporation of third party biological records and data ("BRD") into the desk study element of our survey is very important. We further advise that depending upon the type of report, BRD is frequently required to comply with the NPFF, BS:42020 and CIEEM s reporting Standards. If BRD is not referred to in the 'Local Environment' section of this report, it is because the customer has not authorised Arbtech to purchase BRD. Date of the Survey 11 July Seasonality This type of assessment can be conducted during the period May to September inclusive, with the optimal season for surveying maternity colonies limited to mid-may to August inclusive (Hundt, 2012). 4

5 Informative Table 1: Summary of Pertinent Legislation and Planning Policy Relevant to the Protection of Bats in the UK This table is adapted from Table 2.1 and Section 2.5 of the Bat Surveys Good Practice Guidelines (Hundt, 2012). Location of Roost England Wales Transposing EC Habitats Directive Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations Scotland Conservation (Natural Habitat & c.) Regulations 1994 as amended. Other Legislation Relevant Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as amended. Countrywide and Rights of Way Act Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as amended. Countrywide and Rights of Way Act Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as amended. The Nature conservation (Scotland) Act Planning Policy National Planning Policy Framework ( NPPF ). Technical Advice Note ( TAN ) 5. National Planning Policy Guidance ( NPPG ) 14 and Planning Advice Note ( PAN ) 60. Cumulatively, this legislation makes it illegal to: Intentionally or deliberately kill, injure or capture bats. Deliberately disturb bats, whether at roost or not. Damage, destroy or obstruct access to bat roosts. Possess or transport a bat or any part of a bat, unless acquired legally. Sell, barter or exchange bats, or any part of a bat. A bat roost is defined by Hundt (2012) as the resting place of a bat. Generally however, the word roost is interpreted to mean any structure or place, which any wild bat uses for shelter or protection. 5

6 The Survey Methodology In order to fully assess the potential value of bat habitat at the site, the survey observes widely accepted, industry best practice standards set out in the Bat Conservation Trust publication Bat Surveys Good Practice Guidelines (Hundt 2012). These guidelines state that the aim of the bat emergence survey also called a nocturnal survey or an activity survey is to observe and catalogue the bat activity in a given area (Hundt 2012), and to make recommendations for further survey work as appropriate. The survey includes for the observation of all elevations of all buildings, structures (and trees) referred to in the Survey Results section of this report. Observations are both internal (where possible) and external, making use of torches, ladders, endoscopes, mirrors, binoculars and cameras where appropriate to do so. More specifically, Hundt (2012) state the aims of the survey are; To determine presence/absence of species i.e. the species present in a given area. To determine the intensity of bat activity both spatially and temporally i.e. to help estimate bat populations. To determine the type of activity, most usually foraging (e.g. by feeding buzzes), commuting (e.g. by high directional pass rates) and mating (e.g. by mating social calls). To find roosts by tracking back bat flight paths or observing dawn flight activity at roosts. To find or record the emergence of bats from a building or built structure. If bats, evidence of their recent activity or the emergence of bats from a roost are found during our survey, this report will make recommendations for further survey work and or design mitigation, where this is consistent with the Hundt (2012) and Mitchell-Jones (2004) publications, and considered appropriate by the surveyor in the context of the proposed development. 6

7 Previous Survey The site was the subject of an initial assessment bat survey by Arbtech Consulting Ltd, prior to the bat emergence survey. Table 2: Initial Assessment Bat Survey Summary Roost Habitat Value Are bat emergence surveys required? Building B1 Low. Gaps in sandstone roof tiles. Missing mortar on the ridge and gableend wall plate. Yes. 1x Dusk surveys. May to September inclusive. 2x surveyors. Dates of the Bat Emergence Survey Table 3: Survey Dates, Times and Weather Records Date Survey Time: from/to Weather: Start Weather: Finish 11/07/2014 Dusk 21:20 23:05 Temp: 18 C Humidity: 56% Cloudy: 20% Wind: 1/8 Rain: None Temp: 16 C Humidity: 70% Cloudy: 40% Wind: 1/8 Rain: None 7

8 Extents of the Desk Study Table 4: Buildings and or trees referred to by number and in accordance with the sketch plan at Appendix 1. Desk Study Records Local Environment The survey preparation has been informed by the use of a desk study utilising: - aerial images from Google Earth, MAGIC and other freely available information e.g. Natural England s nature on the map website, and OS Opendata 2010 using grid reference SE and postcode BD20 5RL. No other data set has been consulted. The site is north of Keighley, West Yorkshire. It stands in totally rural position on a hill side looking over the town. The site is a working farm comprised of five substantial buildings including the barn in question. The barn itself is attached to the farm house, both of which were built approx. c1800, in a typical style. Both are constructed of sandstone walls with sandstone tile roofs. The barn is open to its southern aspect. It s used for overwintering cattle and storing hay in the summer. The barn is totally empty at present apart from a layer of cattle dung approx. 1m thick covering the floor. The site is surrounded by grass pasture lands and hay meadows. There is a clump of twelve mature trees directly south west of the barn and a substantial wood approx. 400m south west of the farm. There are no linear features in close proximity. There is no open water within 500m of the site.

9 Survey Results Table 5: Buildings and or trees referred to by number and in accordance with the sketch plan at Appendix 1 and photographs at Appendix 2. Surveyors: A: Jo Gregory B: Ross James Surveyor Initials Suspected Roost Identified on sketch plan at Appendix 1 Dates and Times 11/07/2014 Sunset: 21:36 Records of Significant Bat Activity A B1 21:20 23:05 Commuting passes by common pipistrelles at 21:43, 22:07, 22:10, 22:16, 22:18 and 22:27 with bats flying from the east along the front of the farmhouse and B1 to the trees adjacent to the site, and also high along the roof line of the house and B1 to the trees. These bats (approx. 10 in total) foraged among the tree canopy until 22:47 when several bats flew east following the same commuting routes as above. From 22:48 22:52 the bats returned often with two or three bats arriving together, flying along the same commuting route to the trees where intensive foraging began again and lasted until the end of the survey. From 21:52 22:35 there was constant foraging activity by a common pipistrelle in the metal barn behind the surveyor. When this bat emerged at 22:35 a single myotis species was observed foraging within the metal barn. A common pipistrelle that had been foraging beneath the tree canopy entered the metal barn at 22:54 and continued to forage inside for the remainder of the survey. B B1 As above Two distant passes by common pipistrelles at 22:10 and 22:15 bats not seen. Constant foraging activity by approx. 6 common pipistrelles between 22:27-22:44 with bats foraging above the farmhouse and Roost Status: Emergence (Black) Activity (Amber) No Activity (Green) Activity Activity 9

10 trees. Further foraging activity was observed by common pipistrelles at 22:33 with bats foraging in the field behind the surveyor and two common pipistrelles foraging up and down the track at 22:35. Bat activity maps and surveyor locations are found at Appendix I. 10

11 Conclusions and Recommendations Table 6: Buildings, Groups or Trees referred to by number and in accordance with the sketch plan at Appendix I. Suspected roost and type Identified on sketch plan at Appendix 1 and type at Appendix 3 Was the roost confirmed? Will the development affect the roost? Roost significance Graded per Natural England Guidance What recommendations and mitigation are appropriate? Is a European Protected Species Licence necessary? B1 Roost type: N/A no roost confirmed Unconfirmed Further survey work required Confirmed N/A no roost confirmed. Low Moderate High N/A no roost confirmed. Mitchel-Jones (2004) defines the conservation value of bat habitats and roosts and makes proposals for mitigation that are appropriate to: the species of bat(s); the population using the roost; and the roost s status e.g. maternity, prebreeding summer roost, hibernacula, etc. We recommend: No bats were observed to emerge from the barn to be converted. None of the bats present during the survey flew near to the barn entrances or suitable roosting features. Caution should be observed during the works and should a bat be unexpectedly found work should stop and further advice sought. Biodiversity enhancements of the site could include installing bat boxes on the buildings or trees to provide roosting opportunities for the common pipistrelles observed to be commuting across the site to forage within the trees. These should be a minimum of 3m above ground level and face south or southwesterly. Yes No 11

12 Bibliography Hundt L (2012) Bat Surveys: Good Practice Guidelines, 2nd edition, Bat Conservation Trust ISBN-13: idelines_2nd_edition National Planning Policy Framework, Batbox (2011). The Batbox Duet: ultrasonic bat detectors [online]. Available at: [Accessed 01 January 2011]. Mitchell-Jones, A. J. (2004), Bat Mitigation Guidelines. English Nature. Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (2005). Circular 06/2005: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation. Para.99 Method Statement Template EPS Licensing (2014) Natural England

13 Document Production and Approval Status Issue Surveyor Date Draft 1 JG 17/07/2014 Final 2 JG 17/07/2014 Limitations Arbtech Consulting Ltd has prepared this report for the sole use of the above named Client or his agents in accordance with our General Terms and Conditions, under which our services are performed. It is expressly stated that no other warranty, expressed or implied, is made as to the professional advice included in this Report or any other services provided by us. This report may not be relied upon by any other party without the prior and express written agreement of Arbtech Consulting Limited. The assessments made assume that the sites and facilities will continue to be used for their current purpose without significant change. The conclusions and recommendations contained in this report are based upon information provided by third parties. Information obtained from third parties has not been independently verified by Arbtech Consulting Limited. Copyright This report is the copyright of Arbtech Consulting Limited. Any unauthorised reproduction or usage by any person other than the addressee is strictly prohibited. 13

14 Appendix 1 Plan

15 Appendix 2 Photos Figure 1: South and west elevations of Barn (Building B1). Figure 2: North elevation of Barn (Building B1).

16 Appendix 3 Roost Classifications (Natural England EPS licensing definitions) a. Day roost: a place where individual bats, or small groups of males, rest or shelter in the day but are rarely found by night in the summer. b. Night roost: a place where bats rest or shelter in the night but are rarely found in the day. May be used by a single individual on occasion or it could be used regularly by the whole colony. c. Feeding roost: a place where individual bats or a few individuals rest or feed during the night but are rarely present by day. d. Transitional / occasional roost: used by a few individuals or occasionally small groups for generally short periods of time on waking from hibernation or in the period prior to hibernation. e. Swarming site: where large numbers of males and females gather during late summer to autumn. Appear to be important mating sites f. Mating sites: sites where mating takes place from later summer and can continue through winter. g. Maternity roost: where female bats give birth and raise their young to independence. h. Hibernation roost: where bats may be found individually or together during winter. They have a constant cool temperature and high humidity. i. Satellite roost: an alternative roost found in close proximity to the main nursery colony used by a few individual breeding females to small groups of breeding females throughout the breeding season. j. Other Explain what the roost type is if not one of the above (it is recognised that roost types are interchangable and not always easy to classify according to the nuances of certain species). 16