The reason why we are not receiving clear guidance Ben, is because the
no-one can work out how to reconcile the irreconcilable.
Gilbert Addison | Tree and Countryside Officer |Breckland Council
Office: 01362 656873 Fax: 01362 656297
DDI: 01362 656243 | Mobile: na
Elizabeth House, Walpole Loke, Dereham NR19 1EE
gilbert.addison@xxxxxxxxxx.gov.uk |www.breckland.gov.uk
-----Original Message-----
From: Ben Rose [mailto:benrosebristol@xxxxxxxx.co.uk]
Sent: 11 March 2008 10:24
To: UK Tree Care
Subject: RE: Habitat disturbance and the new EU regs
Andrew Cowan recently produced an article called Visual Tree Assessment
for Habitat that was published in essentialARB (issue 24 pg 42-48). What
I like about this article is that (if I have understood it correctly) a
professional bat consultant does not have to do the assessment - it
states:
"Such a climbing inspection should be completed by a person familiar
with the field signs left by bats, under close supervision of a
consultant with an in depth knowledge of bat ecology and tree
physiology."
This is easier for most people because it does not involve employing an
expensive liscenced bat worker. I have to say that it feels like the bat
surveyors run a bit of a racket as we have known about the importance of
bats for a long time know but we have yet to receive clear guidance of
what to do when we find bats or habitats suitable for bats (other than
contact Natural England, a bat consultant, or your local bat group).
I also like the scoring system for bat habitats for trees in the
article, it runs from 0 - no value to 4 - confirmed roost. The only
thing that is missing is guidance on what to do after you have scored
your trees for habitat!
I personally feel that we are lacking clear guidance from "those in the
know" and although there is the will to do the right thing in the
industry we haven't been shown a practical and inexpensive way of
conserving bat habitats. So I still think that there is work to do.
I thought that the traffic light system was a good step foreward to
making decisions easier - to hear that it has been withdrawn (for being
insufficiently rigorous) is typical - very unhelpful!
I know its not an easy matter but I'm sure that the process can be
boiled down to a few simple steps. We will wait and see.
Ben
From: countrywiseivybridge@xxxxxxxx.co.uk> To:
uktc@xxxxxx.tree-care.info> Subject: Re: Habitat disturbance and the
new EU regs> Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:37:03 +0000> > Mark,> > thanks
for that update I didn't realise that was the case.> > Do you know of
any other similar system/approach that is available at > present to
assist with habitat risk assessment?> > Any help or advice would be
much appreciated.> > Regards> > Chris> ----- Original Message ----- >
From: "Mark Carter" <mjc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.co.uk>> To: "UK Tree Care"
<uktc@xxxxxx.tree-care.info>> Sent: Monday, March 10, 2008 9:14 PM>
Subject: RE: Habitat disturbance and the new EU regs> > > >> From:
Chris Widdicombe [mailto:countrywiseivybridge@xxxxxxxx.co.uk]> >> Sent:
10 March 2008 20:03> >> To: UK Tree Care> >> Subject: Re: Habitat
disturbance and the new EU regs> >>> >> Hi Rupert,> >>> >> I recently
carried out some works to a Beech tree on National Trust land,> >>
which had what I considered to be potential Bat habitat in the form
of> >> several cavities in the scaffold structure of the tree. I
contacted a Bat> >> Ecologist as instructed by the LA, the ecologist
carried out a site visit> >> and assessment of the tree and produced a
written report which included> >> recommendations/instructions for a
climbing inspection which had to be> >> undertaken in a very carefull
and methodical manner using torches and> >> mirrors to inspect
cavities. In this instance no bats were found but the> >> instruction
was that if Bats were present, works would have to be> >> postponed.>
The report also included a specification to be followed so that
non of > >> the> >> cavities were compromised, hence preserving the
potential habitat for the> >> future.> >>> >> So in answer to your
question in part, is that if you suspect Bats to be> >> present you
must employ the services of a qualified Bat Ecologist (Lists> >>
available from the LA)> >> to carry out a survey/report and follow
their guidance.> >>> >> For other EPS there is a very good guide on
the Forestry Commission web> >> site> >> in the form of a Traffic
Light system which gives step by step> >> methodology.> >>> >> hope
this is of help> >>> >> Regards> >>> >> Chris> >> > Chris,> >> > The
traffic light system you refer to has been withdrawn as it was deemed>
insufficiently rigorous.> >> >> > Best regards,> >> > Mark Carter> >
MICFor. M.Arbor.A. Dip. Arb. (RFS)
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