HS2 caught up in a row over the potential disturbance of the Bechstein’s bat
HS2 has been caught up in a row over the potential disturbance of "one the UK's rarest mammals", Bechstein’s bat.
Construction of the high speed rail link requires trees along its route to be felled and campaigners are concerned that maternity roosts for bats are being disturbed in the process.
Found in southern England, the Bechstein's bat lives in woodland and roosts in old woodpecker holes or tree crevices.
As construction continues through lockdown, campaigners are worried over the effects it will have on the maternity season for bats, from May to August, with the first pups starting to be born now.
The Bat Conservation Trust has received reports of “potential disturbance and damage” to the protected species.
The Bat Conservation Trust has said: “Reports we have been receiving about potential disturbance and damage to bat roosts in trees during the maternity season is a cause for concern for BCT.
“We are investigating the matter as protecting maternity roosts from disturbance at this sensitive time of the year is particularly important.”
Government guidelines state that survey reports and mitigation plans are required for development projects that could affect protected species.
In accordance with Natural England licences, HS2 said that they identify and inspect bat roosts, as well as those features that have bat roost potential, ahead of any work.
A HS2 spokesperson said: “No trees supporting any bat maternity roosts are being felled in the maternity season.
“HS2 take its legal obligations seriously, and all our ecology work is carried out in accordance with the law.
“Licenses from Natural England ensure that we have the right safeguarding in place to protect wildlife species, including bats, and that all protections are met.
They added: “All leading wildlife organisations agree that climate change is the biggest future threat to wildlife and habitats in the UK.
“We’d urge environmental groups to help us in getting people out of their cars, off planes and onto low-carbon, high speed rail.”
But many are still concerned about protection of bats, particularly Bechstein’s bats.
Emma Marsh, Director of RSPB England, wrote to Secretary of State Grant Shapps and CEO of HS2 Mark Thurston in March and said: “Much of the mitigation for bats in Buckinghamshire has been challenged by independent academic experts as inadequate and ineffective.
“For example, Bechstein’s bats are one of the UK’s rarest mammals and prefer mature woodland - newly planted hedgerows and woodlands will not help these animals.”
A campaigner from the Anti-HS2 SOC (Save Our Countryside) group in Steeple Claydon told The Bucks Herald: “Between May and September there shouldn't be any felling of trees or disturbance of buildings where bats are raising their young.”
