CLIENT
Public Health Wales

SERVICES

Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA)
Bat activity surveys
European Protected Species Mitigation Licence (EPSML)
Ecological Clerk of Work (EcOW)

DATE
March 2022

OVERVIEW:

Wildwood Ecology applied their expert knowledge of bats and experience and understanding of species licencing to enable roofing works at a building with a known bat roost.

CHALLENGE:

We were contacted by the client to assist with reroofing work required at the Breast Test Wales building. The client was aware that a bat roost was present within a section of the roof.

During the Preliminary Roost Assessment and subsequent bat activity surveys a large maternity roost was identified. Although the area of the roost and access point were not to be directly affected by roofing works, there was a possibility of disturbance if works were carried out when the maternity roost was active and the possibility that bats may use the building year-round in close proximity to such a large maternity roost.

APPROACH:

A Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA) was first undertaken to characterise the bat roost during which approximately 30 live bats, including young, were observed in the roof space.

During subsequent bat activity surveys, a maximum count of 507 bats were recorded exiting the building, confirming a large soprano pipistrelle maternity roost.

A European Protected Species Licence (EPSL) was required in order to legally carry out roofing works, to prevent disturbance to the roost and due to the possibility that bats may also use other parts of the building outside maternity season.

Ecological Clerk of Works was required including toolbox talks to contractors and watching brief to allow the work to be undertaken under the licence.

OUTCOME:

Natural Resources Wales was satisfied with the licence application and a licence was granted without any queries from the Species Team.

Ecological Clerk of Works was provided from February 2022, during which a further, unoccupied roost to the rear of the building was identified. As the bat licence was already in place for the building, and no bats were present at the time of the works, it was possible for works to continue without any delays.

Currently roofing works are continuing at the building with ongoing support from Wildwood Ecology.

TESTIMONIAL

“I was very pleased with the technical advice and support I received from Wildwood Ecology in particular the work of Richard Dodd who handled the case. I was very impressed by Richard’s grasp of the potential financial impact the project faced and his can do attitude in getting the project back on track with minimal disruption successfully navigating through a relatively unknown and rarely used piece of legislation.” 

Mr M J Price (Owner)