Bats and Trees

All of the bat species found in Scotland are known to use trees as roosts.  Sometimes these roost sites can be conspicuous, but often they are difficult to see.  Because roosts may only be used at certain times of the year you may not always be able to see bats, so care needs to be taken to make sure that if a tree is to be felled, cut or lopped or if branches are to be removed, a bat roost isn't present.  To make sure that you stay within the law, if you are planning such work, and if there is any risk that bats might be present, we recommend that you get a bat survey carried out.  The Bat Conservation Trust  have produced best practice guidelines for bat surveys   which covers looking for roosts in trees.

If bats are found to be present and if the proposed work might affect them you might require a licence.  If there is no alternative and the work might otherwise result in an offence being committed, then it may be possible to get a licence to carry out the work proposed.  Licences can only be granted subject to strict tests being met. 

Contact Scottish Natural Heritage species licensing team for advice.