All 18 species of bats in the UK are all protected. It is illegal to kill, injure, capture or disturb a bat. It is also illegal to damage, destroy, or obstruct roosts. 17 species are known to breed in the UK.

Bats utilise a variety of places for roosting, breeding and hibernating and developers need to be aware of the possible presence of bats on their land and the implications for development..

They can roost in trees, buildings, or other types of structures. The roost can vary in size from a small crack in a tree, or a single lifted roof tile, to caves / railway tunnels and large attics. Services relating to bats can include the following:

• A daytime search of a building (internal and external), which can be carried out any time of year, looking for roost features or possible roost features.
• A daytime ground-based search of a tree, which can be carried out any time of year although winter is better due to less vegetation, looking for roost features or possible roost features.
• A daytime aerial tree climbing survey, which can be carried out any time of year although winter is better due to less vegetation, looking for roost features or possible roost features.
• If potential roost features are identified, then night-time activity emergence or re-entry survey will be required. These are carried out around dawn or dusk, and timing vary depending on the time of the year.
• Transect surveys if foraging or commuting activity is suspected on the site.
• Bat mitigation, including licences.

The main period for bat activity surveys is mid-May to August, although a single additional survey can also be done in early May or September. To handle bats, you need a bat licence.

Any building or mature tree could provide potential roosting opportunities. If you have these on your site, then contact Phlorum.

Phlorum can provide advice and carry out a range of bat surveys including preliminary roost assessments, dusk emergence surveys and pre-dawn re-entry surveys as well as static monitoring and bat activity transects.

The team can also compile European Protected Species Mitigation (EPSM) licence applications for developments likely to impact upon bat roosts, or a Bat Mitigation Class Licence (formerly known as a Bat Low Impact Licence) which are possible on some sites.