bat survey, assessment and mitigation

Ecus has in-depth experience of bat survey, mitigation and licensing works nationally. Our central location less than 1 minute from Junction 34 of the M1 allows easy travel to all parts of the UK.  With over 20 years of experience in bat survey and assessment, including remote (Anabat) survey, we focus on supporting our clients through the requirements of the legislation and planning system.

There are 18 species of bat known in the UK; some of these are quite rare.  All are protected by UK and European Law under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010.

Surveys: ECUS offer practical advice, a pragmatic approach and a comprehensive range of bat surveys including building, barn and bridge inspections, dusk and dawn emergence and re-entry surveys, transect surveys, tree surveys and remote automated detector surveys, hibernation surveys and radio-tracking studies.

Mitigation: works range from installing external and internal bat boxes, creating new roosts, supervising demolition and re-roofing, landscaping for bats, advising home-owners, architects, builders and developers on how to accommodate bats within new and old properties. We now supply Schwegler bat boxes at competitive prices!

European Protected Species Development Licenses: Where the process of a development requires work which may disturb bats or destroy a bat roost, a license may be required. This would allow such actions normally be considered an offence under UK and European Law.  These are issued in certain circumstances by Natural England under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010.

ECUS prepare these detailed license applications on behalf of clients.

Bats and Wind Power: ECUS can provide a complete service when it comes to EIA and ecological surveys for renewables, including wind farms or single turbine projects. In relation to bats we offer a complete package of surveys taking into account recently published BCT guidelines on bats and wind farms, including roost surveys, manual transect surveys and remote automated surveys using the latest technology.

Remote/Automated Bat Detector Hire: ECUS use AnaBat and the new SM2 remote detectors units. These can be employed for a variety of applications e.g. when large amounts of data are required over extended periods of time; for sites in remote locations; where budgets prevent high levels of manual surveys; in conjunction with manual or other surveys.  They are particularly useful for wind farm studies.

ECUS provide a tiered or bespoke service ranging from dry hire of units to the complete service.