Bats LBAP


	WELCOME TO CHESHIRE BIODIVERSITY PART OF THE CHESHIRE REGION BIODIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP

BATS
LOCAL BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN

Links to associated HAPs

Ancient Semi-Natural Broadleaved Woodland, Ancient and/or species-rich Hedgerows

Current Status

There are 16 species of bat occurring in Britain with at least 2 others occurring as vagrants. Nine bat species have been recently recorded in the Cheshire region: Pipistrelle (now classified as 2 separate species, 45kHz & 55 kHz), Brown Long-eared, Whiskered, Brandts, Noctule, Daubentons, Leislers, Natterers and Serotine (although serotine records have yet to be confirmed). The pipistrelle is the only bat species that occurs in the Cheshire region that currently has a National BAP.

All species of bat are given full protection under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 and Schedule 2 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats & c.) Regulations 1994. This protection extends to their roosts and hibernacula.

All of the nine bat species occurring in the Cheshire region are listed in the U.K. Biodiversity Steering Group Report Volume 2 (Action Plans). The Pipistrelle is a UK Priority Species and has an unfavourable conservation status in Europe. Although it is the most widespread species in the U.K., it has declined significantly this century, and a national action plan has been produced. The remaining eight species are UK Species of Conservation Concern and all have an unfavourable conservation status in Europe. There are no national action plans for these species as yet.

The Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) has produced a national action plan for the conservation of all bat species in Britain. This lists the status of all the species occurring in the U.K., along with recommendations for future research, monitoring and protection. Many aspects of this report are reflected in this action plan for bats in the Cheshire region and co-operation with the BCT and other relevant groups is sought.

The general consensus is that all species of bat are declining nationally. Following discussions with local bat group members, it was decided that not enough is known about any one species of bat occurring in the region to prioritise the conservation effort. It was there decided that at this stage one single action plan would be produced to cover all of the species in the Cheshire region. This will be reassessed once sufficient information has been obtained.

The National Target to restore pre 1970s populations is an impossible target as we do not have sufficient data in Cheshire to establish what our pre 1970 population levels were. It is known that pipistrelles are doing well and there is an increase in numbers across their national range.

As there is now a problem of Lyssa Virus (otherwise known as bat rabies) in the UK, it is strongly recommended that the general public do not handle bats, especially with bare hands.

Threats

The intensification of agriculture, inappropriate riparian management and changes in land use leading to a decline of insect prey and loss of connective flyways which act as feeding and commuting routes.
Misunderstanding of the legislation protecting bats, leading to loss or damage of roosts when consultation procedures have been ignored.
Loss of and/or disturbance to winter roosting sites.
Loss and disturbance of other roosts, particularly maternity roosts, through use of toxic timber treatment chemicals, intolerance by roost owners, inappropriate building practices, and tree felling.
Developments and road construction resulting in loss of suitable roosting and foraging habitat and inappropriate mitigation.
Wind farms, domestic and industrial, of which the impact on bats has not been fully investigated in the UK.

How are we helping to conserve the bats in the Cheshire region?

Current recording within the region is carried out via two volunteer bat groups, the Cheshire Bat Group and the Merseyside and West Lancashire Bat Group which incorporates Wirral, Trafford and Tameside.
Regular surveying and monitoring is carried out by the local bat groups through the National Bat Monitoring Programme.
The consultation system of English Nature and the local bat groups works to protect threatened roosts and individual bats.
The trainee bat handlers have continued with their training in order to gain the experience required to obtain their licences.
The collation of records from bat workers, members of the public and other sources has begun.
Members of the BAP group have continued to raise public awareness and have undertaken educational activities to improve the understanding and acceptance of bats.

Objectives, Targets and Actions

NATIONAL TARGETS	Maintain existing populations and range of pipistrelles.
NATIONAL TARGETS	Restore populations to pre-1970 numbers
LOCAL OBJECTIVES	LOCAL TARGETS
1:Regular survey & monitoring	5 Zoo surveys, 5 Daubentons surveys in partnership with BASC, 3 Manchester Airport roost visits, 10 NBMP surveys, additional surveys as the opportunity arises.
2:Provide a call out service for to roosts and injured bats	Respond to 100% of calls to provide information and advice, and carry out a visit where required.
3:Continue training program	Increase skills and knowledge of existing members by running 4 courses/events by 2005.
3:Continue training program	Recruit and train 3 more members by 2005
4: Collate past and present records	All available records to be entered on the database at rECOrd by end 2005.
ACTION REQUIRED
20+ walks and talks Roost visits (90% response) Bat box checks at Cowards reedbed and Chadkirk LNR

Progress so far

2006 Action Completed

60+ walks and talks delivered across the couny in schools and nature reserves, community groups and general guided walks by members of Cheshire Bat Group and rangers.
Bat box check carried out at Cowards reedbed - 4 common pipistrelles found.
100% roost visits completed.

2005 Action Completed

Target 1 - Regular survey and monitoring: Bat Driving Survey completed of county; Ongoing monitoring of Manchester Airport Bats Barns; NBMP surveys undertaken. ANABAT automated monitoring stations are being used across the county; Establishment of ANABAT reference call library; Bat boxes erected at Coward Reedbed.
Target 2 - Call out service: 100% of BCT roost calls responded to via phone contact or visit as required.
Target 3 - Training: Training programme for new trainees for Roost Visitors licence now in place. Trainees Charter has been drafted and adopted by the Cheshire Bat Group.
Target 4 - Records: Bat Roost Records and Bat Recordings are being collated by the Cheshire Bat Group. Records have also been provided to rECOrd for addition to county database.
Talks and Walks for general public and specialist groups have been provided throughout the year by members of the Cheshire Bat Group.
BASC have continue to work with CWT in providing access to parts of the county where bat records are deficient for ongoing survey work.
In a recent BASC survey on the conservation work of their members it was found that 13 bat boxes had been erected in Cheshire in the last year.

2004 Action Completed

Over 5 surveys carried out in 2004 on BASC members land for Daubentons bats.
Additional vehicle transect and walking surveys for other bat species on BASC members land, especially in the south west of the county throughout 2004.

2003 Action Completed

In 2003 at least 30 bat talks were given, approximately 40 roost visits made and approx. 30 bat boxes put up by the Cheshire Bat Group.
Monthly surveys of Chester Zoo and surrounding grounds have been carried out in 2003.
Training of volunteers in 2003 included bat detector talks by Phil Richardson, continued training of volunteers for licenses & the addition of new members to the group.
A new Brandts/whiskered tree roost was discovered in 2003 at Marbury Park
Surveys for the National Bat Monitoring program were carried out in 2003.
On the Wirral in 2003 an education project has been delivered to year 5 classes in 75% of Wirral schools (including an interactive workshop promoting understanding and conservation of bats plus general biodiversity education).

1997-2003 Action Completed

Increased survey work for the National Bat Monitoring Programme was undertaken.
English Nature and the Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund provided grants towards equipment.
Bats are included on the wildlife road casualty database compiled by Life ECOnet Project.
Survey sheets have been placed in the Twilight Zone at Chester Zoo and members of the public have been filling them in.
2 bats were found in the known hibernacula during the winter 2002/2003

How to find out more about Bats

The Wirral Biodiversity Action Plan for Bats can be seen at www.wirral.gov.uk/ed/biodiversity/bats.htm
Bat Conservation Trust - www.bats.org.uk
UK BAP for Pipistrelle Bats - www.ukbap.org.uk/UKPlans.aspx?ID=519

How can you get involved?

Join the Cheshire Bat Group or the Merseyside and West Lancashire Bat Group (which incorporates Wirral, Trafford and Tameside).

Contact details

LBAP Chair	Dr Elizabeth Barratt, Cheshire Wildlife Trust Phone: 01948 820728
National Lead Partners	Bat Conservation Trust
National Lead Contact	Pipistrelle Bat - Dr Katie Parsons, Bat Conservation Trust Phone: 020 7501 3625

References & Glossary

HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, Volume 1: Meeting the Rio Challenge, London.
HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, Volume 2:Action Plans, London.
Hutson, A.M. (1993): Action Plan for the Conservation of Bats in the United Kingdom, The Bat Conservation Trust.
Mitchell-Jones, A.J. (1996): Mammals in England: A Conservation Action Priority List No 26, English Nature.
Morris, P.A. (1993): A Red Data Book for British Mammals, Mammal Society.
Sargent, G. (1995): The Bats in Churches Project, the Bat Conservation Trust.
Walsh, K. (1995): Cheshire's Bat Record, CWT Unpublished.
Whitten, A.J. (1990): Recovery: A proposed programme for Britain's Protected Species, Nature Conservancy Council Report No. 1089.