CONSIDERING BATS

摘要

There is no doubt that trees are an important feature on many golf courses, providing definition and strategy, as well as creating screening for adjacent holes. Nevertheless, golf course maintenance often requires the removal of trees. Whilst the majority of course managers and greenkeepers are aware of the significance of trees for birds, making sure to halt any tree work during the bird breeding season (March to September), perhaps very few understand their crucial use as bat roosts too. At least eight out of the 18 bat species known to be residents or vagrants in the UK roost in trees, whether for breeding or forresting. All bat species, including their roosts and feeding perches, are fully protected under EU law by The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010. It is therefore imperative that a preliminary survey is carried out before any invasive tree works commence to identify bat roost potential.