The UN has proclaimed 22nd May the International Day for Biological Diversity to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. In 2022, International Day for Biological Diversity is being celebrated under the theme “Building a shared future for all life”.
As a company we encourage net positive effect on even the smallest of schemes. We will identify opportunities to create new habitats further along the line, and incorporate habitats in new structures, such as bat boxes, otter ledges, the installation of nest boxes or the creation of hibernacula on-site.”
As part of each ecology survey, we assess our sites for bat species. All species of bat, their breeding sites and resting places are strictly protected in England under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations (2017). Bats require different roosting conditions at different times of year. Some bats prefer hollow trees, bridges or buildings.
One example of our work to protect bat species, is at our site Bourne Brook, a three-span underbridge spanning a watercourse (River Bourne Brook) in Whitacre, North Warwickshire.
The works were completed under a bat mitigation licence from Natural England, ensuring that adequate bat mitigation measures were implemented to alleviate the risk of any disturbance. Emergence surveys were undertaken to identify any bats roosting within the culverts before a bespoke bat gate was installed (consisting of a timber frame and mesh netting) to the face of the culvert. Once works for the day had finished, the bat gates were closed and secured to stop any bats from roosting in the culvert.
Once works were completed, bat boxes were installed under the bridge to provide an artificial roosting space for any potential bats.
