Bats
Nine species of bat are known to live on the Croft Estate and several species of bat frequent Fishpool Valley, including Pipistrelle and Soprano Pipistrelle. We will be carefully assessing buildings and trees to minimise impacts on the habitat and optimise opportunities to enhance the environment for bats; creating 'edges' to the woodland and increasing the area of open water, which attracts species such as Daubenton's. In January we will be monitoring structures in need of urgent repair for presence of bats before repair work commences. Alternative roosting provision will be installed in the vicinity of the structures and natural roosting opportunities enhanced by the manner in which tree work is conducted around the buildings.
No large scale tree work will be taking place during the bat hibernation season and the creation of the 'edges' along and throughout the woodland will hopefully bring multiple biodiversity benefits, including improved foraging resources for bats.