Highworth, Swindon

ACD undertook a preliminary roost inspection of a barn in Highworth, Swindon. The barn had multiple features for roosting bats, with a stone wall containing holes and crevices which bats could use as summer roosts and possibly for hibernation. A licenced bat ecologist used an endoscope to inspect suitable features inside the barn, including a wooden panel mounted on the stone wall, with an electricity meter attached. A barbastelle bat (Barbastella barbastellus) was discovered under the wooden panel. Barbastelle bats are a rare species, found only in southern England and Wales. ACD advised on a package of suitable mitigation tailored to the ecological requirements of the species, to allow the development to proceed lawfully, whilst avoiding any impacts on bats.