North Yorkshire Education Centre: Long-Term Bat Mitigation
Leveraging historical site data to deliver licensed bat mitigation for a sensitive North Yorkshire education centre development ensuring legislative compliance.
E3 Ecology.
Expert bat mitigation for sensitive developments.
E3 Ecology were instructed in 2023 to undertake a bat presence/absence survey of a proposed development of an education centre located within the grounds of a hall in North Yorkshire. E3 Ecology had previous knowledge and experience of the site, having been involved in bat surveys of the site in 2007.
In the survey work undertaken in 2007, a soprano pipistrelle maternity roost was recorded within the building. The renovation works included several enhancements to ensure that the site provided suitable roosting opportunities.
Monitoring Surveys
Monitoring surveys were carried out by E3 Ecology immediately after the renovation works had been completed. Unfortunately, following the renovation works, the soprano pipistrelle maternity colony did not return. However, smaller numbers of this species, as well as common pipistrelle and Myotis sp. bats were observed to be using the site. It was concluded that after the initial disruption of the works, bats may return to use the site in larger numbers given time.
E3 Ecology’s surveys in 2023 revealed that exactly this had happened, though instead of soprano pipistrelle, two other different species’ maternity roosts were found! A peak count of 183 Brandt’s bats was recorded using the site, which is a high number of bats for a maternity roost of this species, as well as up to 14 brown long-eared bats (which can form maternity roosts in much smaller numbers). This demonstrates the success of the previous mitigation works for bats in the wider area, potentially of greater conservation value.
Mitigation Works
Further renovation works were proposed to take place in 2024, for which planning permission and listed building consent was obtained and a Natural England bat mitigation licence was obtained by E3 Ecology.
The works were undertaken in the least sensitive times of year for these bats, under ecological supervision, in accordance with the licence. The results of bat monitoring surveys are eagerly awaited, though field signs (including droppings) already indicate that bats have continued to use the building to roost already.
How Can E3 Ecology Help?
If you think E3 Ecology can help with your social housing maintenance project, or other licensed ecological works, please get in touch to discuss your requirements.