Bats – but not in the belfry

Before we can start work on the main barn which will house our living area, we have to “mitigate” the bats. As many will know, bats are a European Protected Species and in 2008, when the ecological survey was done, two lesser horshoe bats were observed roosting in the barn. Pity there are no photographs, but apparently bats do not like bright lights or flashes, which drive them away.

We are quite happy to deal with them, but it seems a new survey this summer will be necessary and then a mitigation scheme put to Natural England.

What we are proposing is to dedicate about half of the roofspace of our “Little Barn” as a bat loft.

Lesser horseshoe bats unlike brown long eared bats like to enter and fly around before settling, requiring a space of between 2 – 2.8m high and 4-5m wide. The Little Barn should be able to accomodate this relatively easy.