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Belton House, Grantham, Lincolnshire - Work affecting brown long-eared bats

• Surveying for protected species
• Designing work programmes to prevent disturbance to protected species and ensure legal compliance
• Post work monitoring

A survey of this 17 th Century stately house was required in connection with proposed quinquennial repairs to the roof structure. The work included the fixing of stainless steel plates between the joists and purlins to strengthen the timber connections. The presence of bats in the attic spaces of the roof was suspected and a data search confirmed that bats had been recorded in the house itself and surrounding stable buildings.

A survey revealed that the roof was being used by a small number of brown long-eared bats. In liaison with the contractors, the works were timed to avoid disturbing bats and inspections were made of ahead of the works to ensure bats were not disturbed. The project also involved the provision of advice and information to the client regarding potential access points and the measures required to protect bats during the day-to-day running of the house.