Bat Survey South Tyneside

COVID-19 and Bat Surveys

FALCO Ecology are continuing to undertake ecological surveys including bird surveys and bat surveys. We are reviewing our working practice on a daily basis and are conforming to the latest Government and Public Health advice and CIEEM guidance. Current guidance from DEFRA to CIEEM (09.04.2020) allows for outdoor ecological surveys which comply with social distancing and hand washing. We take the safety of our clients, staff and members of the public extremely seriously and will review each ecological survey request to ensure everyone remains safe. Additional measures have been implemented which include the use of hand sanitisers, hand washing facilities in vehicles, anti-bacterial wipes for handles and disposable gloves.

Local Planning Authorities will often request a bat survey as part of a planning application, which usually involves a Bat Risk Assessment/Preliminary Roost Assessment and potentially Roost Surveys (dusk/dawn) or Activity Surveys.

A bat Risk Assessment or Preliminary Roost Assessment of a building involves undertaking an internal and external inspection. The internal inspection focusses on the roof void where bats are predominantly found in residential buildings. Signs of presence including a bat, droppings or staining are searched for and recorded. an external inspection focusses on potential gaps in brickwork, soffit or facia boards, lead flashing and lifted or missing roofing tiles. An assessment is then made to the suitability of the surveyed building supporting roosting bats. This assessment then informs the number of potential roost surveys required which can only be undertaken between April to September and mostly between May and August to detect potential maternity roosts.

We undertake bat surveys throughout the South Tyneside area including South Shields, Whitburn, Cleadon, Bolden, Jarrow and Hebburn.