Once the presence of bats has been established, it may be possible to
discuss with the owner, the architect and the Local Planning authority
suitable ways of allowing the bats to continue using the barn. If enough
'open' roof space can be maintained for the bats with access tiles
incorporated either at the gable end or along the ridge, the bats might
be able to continue to breed in their traditional roost sites. Recent
conversions on Natterer's barns suggest that the bats will not return
unless a permanently open aperture giving access to the roost site is
maintained. Naturally any building work would have to be timed to
avoid the summer breeding period and advice should be sought on 'bat
friendly' timber treatment chemicals. Taking advice from the Statutory
Nature Conservation Organisation would go a long way towards helping
conserve the remaining roosts. It would also save expensive architect's
fees in cases where the architect has failed to notice the bats and a
'redesign' is requested by the local planning authority.
References
Harris, R. Discovering Timber-Framed Buildings. Shire Publications
Hughes, G. (1985) Barns of Rural Britain. The Herbert Press
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