BS 8596:2015

Foreword
0 Introduction
Section 1: General
1 Scope
2 Normative references
3 Terms and definitions
4 Background knowledge and considerations for
   bats in trees and woodland
Section 2: Roosts
5 Scoping (non-specialist) surveys for roosts: individual
   trees and groups of trees
6 Secondary (non-specialist) survey for roosts: individual
   trees and groups of trees (non-development)
7 Secondary (specialist) survey for roosts: individual trees
   and groups of trees (non-development and development)
8 Scoping (non-specialist) surveys for roosts: woodland
   (non-development)
9 Secondary (non-specialist) survey for roosts: woodland
   (non-development)
10 Secondary (specialist) survey for roosts: woodland
   (non-development and development)
Section 3: Foraging and commuting
11 Scoping (non-specialist) survey for foraging and
   commuting: groups of trees and woodland (non-development)
12 Secondary (specialist) survey for foraging and commuting:
   groups of trees and woodland (non-development and
   development)
Section 4: Other relevant considerations
13 Development: individual trees, groups of trees and
   woodland
14 Action to be taken if bats are found during tree work
   operations
15 Emergency procedures for reasons of public health and
   safety
Annexes
Annex A - The UK Forestry Standard
Annex B - Sources of distribution data and local records
Annex C - Information on associated structures that bats
          might use
Annex D - Legislation protecting bats and their roosts
Annex E - Additional information on bats and woodland
Annex F - Example of a roost scoping survey form for
          non-specialists
Annex G - Examples of the use of desk study findings in
          site walkovers
Bibliography

Provides guidance on surveying for bats in individual trees, groups of trees and in woodland.

This British Standard gives guidance on surveying for bats in individual trees, groups of trees and in woodland. This includes scoping, roost and activity surveys, and record keeping.

This British Standard applies to the following:

• forestry and woodland managers and operatives, including woodland owners, managers, agents, foresters, contractors, conservation bodies and woodland advisers;

• arboriculturists, in particular tree work contractors, but also arboricultural consultants and local authority tree officers;

• planning officers, local government ecologists and other government departments whose functions might bring them into contact with bats in trees or woodland (whether directly or indirectly);

• developers and associated professions, e.g. construction companies, demolition companies and landscape architects;

• ecological consultants, particularly those who have the potential to work on the specialist aspect of surveying for bats in trees;

• utility companies, infrastructure constructors and maintainers, engineers; and

• flood risk managers.

This British Standard does not include guidance relating to bat surveys in buildings, underground sites or any habitat other than woodland or trees. It also does not give any guidance about the outcomes of the surveys undertaken, such as how woodland is managed or mitigation measures.