bats

Bats are one of the UK’s many mammals protected by law. They like to roost in cool, quiet places and historic buildings frequently offer a suitable home. According to the Bat Conservation Trust, there are 18 species of bat in the UK (17 of which are known to be breeding here). The significant decrease of numbers in bats has resulted in the protection of all species by law.

As bats are protected by law there is a legal obligation not to disturb bats or damage their roosts. The Bat Conservation Trust has a Bat Helpline, which you can call for general advice on bats. Natural England has produced Bats in Churches: A Management Guide, which tackles specific issues such as droppings and urine and provides advice on works which may affect bats or their roosts. The information in the Natural England guidance is applicable to all regions of the UK but further, country specific, information can be found on the relevant environmental websites of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Countryside Council for Wales, and Scottish Natural Heritage.  

Churchcare, has further guidance on some of the issues surrounding bats and the impact they can have on the contents of your building. The Church of England is actively engaged in highlighting the impact bats can have. Following a one day conference on the topic, Lifting the Curse of the Plastic Sheeting, the Church of England is now discussing these issues with a number of national bodies to develop creative ways of resolving the conflict between nature conservation, the historic environment and the worshipping community.