Bats need a range of roost sites for use at different times of year and under different weather conditions.
Recent survey work in the Yorkshire Dales by the University of Leeds has indicated that bat usage of mines and mine shafts is far more common than previous surveys had indicated.
Bats and their roosts are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside act 1981 - the legislation demands that if work is intended which might affect bats or their roosts the relevant statutory nature conservation organisation (English Nature in England) must be consulted and be allowed reasonable time to give advice on procedures that will accommodated where appropriate the conservation requirements of bats. If there is a prospect of bats being present you should inform the regional office of English Nature of the potential risk to the habitat.
The Bat ConservationTrust and regional bat groups may also be interested.
Robert White
Senior Conservation Archaeologist
Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority
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