Jan 2011
Dudley planning officers are recommending refusal of a scheme to build 14 new houses in the grounds of of historic Wordsley Manor, a grade II listed building . An estimated £400,000 worth of renovation to the manor house is required which could be funded by the development but council officers say the scheme does not go far enough to protect bat and slowworm habitats in the grounds. A report for councillors at the meeting said: “The present application would adversely affect the conservation status of bats and reptile. This would be through the proposal failing to ensure the provision of sufficient quality, quantity and connectivity of habitat to accommodate the reptile population and resulting in the fragmentation of foraging areas for bats.”
Guernsey is planning to overhaul the island's animal welfare laws which could included protecting the island's six species of bat - a move welcomed by the local bat group.
Work on Wivenhoe House, part of Essex University has been delayed due to the presence of hibernating bats. New roosts have been constructed but looks like no one told the bats.....
A springer spaniel in Wales is being trained to sniff our bat carcases at wind farms