Morning all,
I will be undertaking the first of the woodland surveys tomorrow evening (assuming the rains stops). We will be looking at a small number of woodlands in Luton were no records are currently held.
Most of these run in a line from Round Green to the Hertfordshire border, at teh moment I have permission to mist net and look at at least three woods. I am hoping to gain access to other woods running along the boundary.
Martin
The Bedfordshire Bat Group was formed in 1988 and is affiliated to the Bedfordshire Natural History Society and a partner group of the national organisation, The Bat Conservation Trust. The bat group works for bat conservation within Bedfordshire and Luton;carries out surveys of bats and maintains a database of bat records; works with people to provide information and raise awareness of bat conservation; and, when necessary, carries out bat care and rehabilitation
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
National Planning Policy Framework and BCT's new guidelines
Hi all,
National Planning Policy Framework:
On the 27th of March 2012 the Government released the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). This document has streamlined the planning policies that were implemented by the local authorities in a planning context.
Planning Policy Statement 9 (Biodiversity) is no longer valid, however circular 06/05 is to be used in conjunction with NPPF.
There were concerns from the nature conservation movement when the draft of the NPPF was published, the focus was on sustainable development, however there was no definition of what this was!!
In the NPPF which is now in force this has been revised somewhat compared with the draft, to include a definition of sustainable development.
So why was there so much concern?
Put simply the EU habitats directive and bird directive had been mostly ignored. After a lot of lobbing from the major nature organisations such as BCT, the Wildlife Trusts, RSPB and National Trust amendments were made.
Most importantly were EU protected species are concerned there is no presumption in favour of sustainable development. As in the previous planning polices, full and up to date information concerning the species should be available.
What this means in practise we are yet to find out, but the interpretation should be that full surveys for protected species should have been undertaken before planning is granted.
New BCT Survey Guidelines:
At roughly the same time the new 2nd edition of the BCT survey guidelines have been released. These are now much more focused on the commercial ecology industry.
Clarification of some of the minor issues from the previous 1st edition have been made clearer e.g. the consultant is to use expert judgement and the guidelines to make decisions.
Another issue was the de-facto two dusk and one dawn survey, the guidance now says that if a dusk/dawn is undertaken in the same 24hr period that is classed as one survey.
I hazard a guess that this will cause further issues as no definition of a 24hr period is given, common sense would say that this should be a 24hr rotation of the clock, however I can see that certain people will interpret this differently.
Overall the guidance should clear up minor issues from the 1st edition and make the consultants job easier.
Martin
National Planning Policy Framework:
On the 27th of March 2012 the Government released the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). This document has streamlined the planning policies that were implemented by the local authorities in a planning context.
Planning Policy Statement 9 (Biodiversity) is no longer valid, however circular 06/05 is to be used in conjunction with NPPF.
There were concerns from the nature conservation movement when the draft of the NPPF was published, the focus was on sustainable development, however there was no definition of what this was!!
In the NPPF which is now in force this has been revised somewhat compared with the draft, to include a definition of sustainable development.
So why was there so much concern?
Put simply the EU habitats directive and bird directive had been mostly ignored. After a lot of lobbing from the major nature organisations such as BCT, the Wildlife Trusts, RSPB and National Trust amendments were made.
Most importantly were EU protected species are concerned there is no presumption in favour of sustainable development. As in the previous planning polices, full and up to date information concerning the species should be available.
What this means in practise we are yet to find out, but the interpretation should be that full surveys for protected species should have been undertaken before planning is granted.
New BCT Survey Guidelines:
At roughly the same time the new 2nd edition of the BCT survey guidelines have been released. These are now much more focused on the commercial ecology industry.
Clarification of some of the minor issues from the previous 1st edition have been made clearer e.g. the consultant is to use expert judgement and the guidelines to make decisions.
Another issue was the de-facto two dusk and one dawn survey, the guidance now says that if a dusk/dawn is undertaken in the same 24hr period that is classed as one survey.
I hazard a guess that this will cause further issues as no definition of a 24hr period is given, common sense would say that this should be a 24hr rotation of the clock, however I can see that certain people will interpret this differently.
Overall the guidance should clear up minor issues from the 1st edition and make the consultants job easier.
Martin
Monday, 16 April 2012
East of England Bat Conference
Hi all,
Saturday saw the second East of England regional bat conference.
There were some very good talks and the chance for some networking.
Saturday saw the second East of England regional bat conference.
There were some very good talks and the chance for some networking.
Sunday, 1 April 2012
Season Begins
Morning all
The bat season offically starts today, with the first survey kicking off tomorrow evening at Stockgrove CP.
Athough bats have and will be about the temperatures are not looking to good, usually a temperture of 5oC or above means there will be plenty of bat activity, however the days of late have been great but night-time temperatures have been low, with tonights low expected to be 1oC.
This means that the invertebrates that bats prey on are unlikely to be about and therefore bat activity will be low.
Hopefully we will hear the usual species, and it gives us a chance to 'get our ear' back in.
Martin
The bat season offically starts today, with the first survey kicking off tomorrow evening at Stockgrove CP.
Athough bats have and will be about the temperatures are not looking to good, usually a temperture of 5oC or above means there will be plenty of bat activity, however the days of late have been great but night-time temperatures have been low, with tonights low expected to be 1oC.
This means that the invertebrates that bats prey on are unlikely to be about and therefore bat activity will be low.
Hopefully we will hear the usual species, and it gives us a chance to 'get our ear' back in.
Martin
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