Abricon have experienced licensed bat ecologists that are NPTC certified to aerially climb and inspect trees. We provide advice to major infrastructure projects as well as smaller developments. We also provide support to tree officers, site managers, arboricultural consultants, tree surgeons or developers.
Tree Climbing Surveys Methodology
Tree climbing surveys (sometimes known as aerial inspection surveys) are an effective way to assess a tree’s potential to support bats. This technique, which uses access skills borrowed from tree surgery, is far more definitive than ground-based survey, and can be very cost-effective. We use endoscopes when undertaking surveys to confirm the presence or absence of bats. Abricon can undertake Tree climbing surveys at any time of the year.
Trees with features such as woodpecker holes, areas of loose flaking bark, splits, cavities or even thick ivy cover can provide roost sites for bats. Many projects, including site development or arboricultural operations, require the removal or pruning of trees.
Where there is a reasonable likelihood of the bats in trees, planning authorities have a duty to consider impacts on the species and their roosts, and will rely on survey information when considering planning applications. The legal protection afforded to bats and their roosts also means that care needs to be taken by others when felling trees, branches with cavities or other suitable roosting features. Often it’s very clear that a survey is need. Tree climbing surveys should be as conclusive as possible, undertaken in a cost-effective way and always carried out to a high standard.
We produce high quality reports with detailed analysis of the tree and their potential for roosting bats. When licensable activity is required in the future for the relevant SNCO; Abricon will provide recommendations with mitigation and compensation options. We also undertake any installation of bat and / or bird boxes at any height as part of the compensation effort.
Why tree climbing surveys?
Relying on ground-based activity surveys alone (e.g. dawn survey for bats returning to roosts) is a labour-intensive approach; Restricted to the active period (primarily May-September). Without first carrying out climbing inspections, it also risks wasted effort.
You can undertake a tree climbing survey at any time of year. It is often possible to climb several trees in a day, making this a cost-efficient approach. Using tree climbing surveys allow us to access and check potential roost features at close quarters. The use of torches and endoscopes can help find evidence of bat activity. Abricon can often rule out many features which appear suitable from ground level after closer inspection. Therefor reducing the requirement for further surveys or mitigation.
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