Wildlife Conservation

Tree Surgery & Nesting Birds
Bat Roosts in Trees

The implications for tree surgeons and tree surgery works is further increased with this CROW amendment. It is no longer a defence to say that you were not aware that there was a nest present if it can be shown that you have acted "recklessly" and without due care and attention. It is important to inspect the trees & hedges thoroughly before commencement of work and also look thoroughly in the immediate proximity of the works, this should be noted down as part of the Risk Assessment done before the start of every job. If nesting birds are found to be present then the tree work must not commence, or if the tree surgery has already started and nesting birds are then discovered then the work must stop immediately and be rescheduled for later in the year.

The nesting season is generally considered to be from early march to late August*. Even then there will still be many birds tending to chicks in nests well in to September. Note though that birds can and do nest earlier and later than this. They don't do dates! Hedge pruning and clearing of dense vegetation in a woodland should be restricted during these times as it is nigh on impossible to ensure that there are no nesting birds.

* (This period has been stated by a member of the RSPB Investigations Team and a Wildlife Crime Officer).

If tree works are being done in late July & August then there should still be extra vigilence employed.

It is our responsibility as professional arborists to inform clients of this restriction to our activities and educate them about the legal protection that is afforded to wild birds.

The implications for the House owner / client is that they should become aware that tree surgery work may not be able to carried out during the nesting season and that they have a environmental and legal duty not to employ unscrupulous 'tree surgeons' to carry out works during the nesting period.

If you are a neighbour to some tree works being carried out where you know there nesting wild birds then make this known to the house owner or tree surgeons. Their actions then become intentional if they proceed. You can contact the RSPB on 01767 680 551 or visit their website form for reporting 'wildlife crime'

Certain species, in some circumstances, are considered as pests and so are not on the Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (those listed below) and therefore the offence of reckless or intentional disturbance does not apply.

However, the offences of intentionally taking, damaging or destroying the nest or intentionally taking or destroying the eggs of any of these birds does apply - as do the offences of intentionally killing, injuring or taking any of these birds (this includes chicks). These offences all appear under s.1(1) of the WCA 1981.

It is also an offence to 'attempt' to commit any of these offences (s.18(1)).

This applies to the following species

Carrion Crow
Lesser black-backed gull
Jay
Rook

Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Herring gull
Magpie

Great black-backed gull
Jackdaw
Feral Pigeon
Starling

Some species can be controlled in certain circumstances - this is set out in general licenses issued by Natural England.

However all the conditions of the license being used must be complied with in order for the activity to be legal.

These licenses can be found at www.naturalengland.org.uk/conservation/wildlife-management-licensing/genlicences.htm

(Starlings only appears on the general license concerning work carried out to preserve air safety by managers of aerodromes and persons authorised by them.)

Further resources

View the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 on the Joint Nature Conservation Committee website

The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW)

Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) Website

RSPB - Wild birds and the Law

Don't fall fowl of the Wildlife Law by Andrew Cowan (ArborEcology)

NatureNet - Trees in Gardens

Details of Species under general licence with DEFRA

British Garden Birds

As part of our Wildlife Conservation work we have been asked to site nesting boxes ranging from those for small birds like blue tits all the way up to boxes for Barn Owls.

It is possible to purchase very good quality barn owl boxes online from the Barn Owl Centre of Glouctershire, at a very reasonable price. Goto the online shop. You will find bird boxes for the smaller wild birds also. The boxes come with all the fittings and instructions of how to put up.

Alternatively make your own.See the RSPB Nest Box Page for instructions and specifications for different birds

Make sure you have a few pairs of hands to do it safely, or contact your tree surgeon to site them in the trees.

Bats
Bats also live in trees, they use them to roost, give birth, raise young, form groups and hibernate. They are nocturnal and feed on insects associated with trees.
An even greater awareness than that for birds is necessary when working on trees at any time of year due to the inherent difficulties involved in spotting bat habitats.
Bats live in holes, cracks, crevices, splits & cavities. They can also roost under flaps of bark or amongst roots or under dense ivy cover. Favourable conditions for bats therefore occur particularly in mature trees, the most utilised tree species being oak, ash, beech and scots pine.

Signs of bat roosts in trees

What to look for:
• obvious holes, cavities and splits
• dark staining on the tree below a hole .staining around a hole caused by the natural oils in bats' fur
• a maze of tiny scratch marks around the hole from the bats' claws
• droppings below a hole -they look similar to those of rodents, but crumble to a powder of insect fragments
• noise (squeaking or chittering) coming from a hole - especially on a hot day or at dusk
• on close inspection a hole may contain droppings or smell of bats
Apart from looking for these signs, ask if there is any history of bats, check holes by inserting a mirror, and watch for bats emerging at dusk or returning at dawn
The company does have a bat detector unit and if a particular tree is highly suspected to be a roost for bats this equipment can be used to help confirm if this is the case. The bat survey will be necessary during dawn or dusk.
If in doubt contact the Bat Conservation Trust and seek further advice from a licensed bat worker

If a roost is found then stop all work
• If the roost is still on the tree and bats are not injured, seek advice. If help is not available, allow bats to fly out of harm's way
• If the timber is felled, the roost is not exposed and the bats are not injured, temporarily seal and isolate roost and seek help. If help is not readily available, position the roost off the ground, re-open it and allow bats to relocate of their own accord
• If roost has been exposed, and especially if bats have been injured, collect bats into a secure box or bag (using a glove) and seek advice
If evidence of bats is discovered, even if no roost is found or bats seen, then all work must cease immediately and any cut branches or sections of tree already removed should be left overnight where they are to allow any bats a chance to relocate.
In all cases notify the Bat Conservation Trust and the local bat group of your find.

Best working practice
• Bats may be anywhere inside a hole. Exact advice cannot be given, but try to cut as far above any likely hole as possible
• If in doubt whether it is a roost, do not cut, seek advice
• Bats may be inside cracks held open by the weight of a branch, which will close when weight is taken off. Search such splits for bats before removing large limbs and consider wedging open
• When felling ivy-clad trees, once felled allow a 24 hr rest period before snedding and removing ivy

Bats & the Conservation of mature trees and woodland habitat
Management practices have tended to result in mature trees and dead wood being 'tidied up' However, there is increasing recognition of the conservation value of standing dead and dying trees.

Where a mature tree or part of a tree presents a real danger to people or property, there may be no alternative to pruning or felling.

Often trees can be made safe by pruning rather than felling, thereby retaining their value to the environment.
Where conditions permit, it may be possible to retain some trees supported by guys. Branches can be supported by slings or props.

Bats and the law
All bats are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (Schedule 5). They are also included in Schedule 2 of the Conservation Regulations 1994.

The Act and Regulations include provisions making it illegal to:
• intentionally or deliberately kill, injure or capture (take) bats
• deliberately disturb bats (whether in a roost or not)
• damage, destroy or obstruct access to bat roosts

A bat roost is interpreted as 'any structure or place which is used for shelter or protection', whether or not bats are present at the time. If proposed work is likely to destroy or disturb bats or their roosts the appropriate Statutory Nature Conservation Organisation (SNCO) must be notified and allowed a reasonable time to advise on whether the proposed work should be carried out and, if so, the method to be used. The earlier advice is sought, the better.

European Protected Species

Recent legislation came into force on 21st August 2007 which has strengthened legislation for some protected species. The relevant species to trees and woodlands are

• all 17 species of bat
• dormouse
• great crested newt
• otter
• sand lizard
• smooth snake

Since 1994 it has been an offence, under these Regulations, to deliberately kill or cause significant disturbance to a protected species, or to deliberately destroy their eggs. It has also been an offence to ‘damage or destroy a breeding site or resting place’ used by them (such as a bat roost in a tree or a dormouse nest on the woodland floor).

The amended regulation will include as an offence any damage or destruction of a breeding site or resting place. Previously if damage was ‘an incidental result of a lawful operation' and reasonable precautions had been taken to avoid it, it would not have been an offence. Therefore there is a risk of woodland operators committing an offence if they have not carried out planned operations carefully, with the necessary checks and sought a license where required.

Woodland managers will need to consider the presence of protected species and follow good practice guidance to avoid committing an offence. In some cases management practices may need to be modified or rescheduled to a less sensitive time of year, and where this is not possible or adequate then operators may need to apply for a licence to remain within the law. Most activities will be able to continue without the need for a licence through the following of good practice guidance.

The Forestry Commission - nationally through this resource and locally through our network of regional offices - will be able to provide support in relation to the changes and the guidance provided where protected species are present, and will process any applications for licences to carry out work where they are needed. The licences will be issued by Natural England's National Licensing Unit.

More info can be found at

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/england-protectedspecies

and

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/conservation/wildlife-management-licensing/habsregs.htm