Bats, Biodiversity, and Building: What You Need to Know This International Bat Appreciation Day
April 17th is International Bat Appreciation Day—a great time to shine a light on these fascinating creatures and the important role they play in Ireland’s natural environment. It’s also a good opportunity to talk about how bats connect with something you might not expect: planning permission.
At Wetland Surveys Ireland, we work with landowners, homeowners, and their architects or planners to help make sure that development projects run smoothly—and legally—when protected species like bats might be involved.
Why are bats important?
Ireland is home to nine species of bats, all protected by law. Bats are a vital part of our ecosystems: they control insect populations, help pollinate plants, and are a great indicator of the health of our natural environment.
Because bats are sensitive to changes in their habitats, they’re also protected under both Irish and European law. That means if you’re planning works that could disturb bats or their roosts, such as renovating an old building, re-roofing, converting an attic, or removing trees, you may need a bat survey—and possibly an Appropriate Assessment—before you get the green light for planning.
What’s involved in a bat survey?
A bat survey is a specialist ecological survey carried out to check whether bats are present at a site or likely to be affected by proposed works. Depending on the time of year and the type of work planned, this might involve:
Roost inspections – checking buildings, trees or structures for signs of bat activity
Emergence surveys – evening or dawn monitoring using bat detectors
Habitat assessments – looking at the surrounding landscape for bat foraging or commuting routes
Surveys are typically done between May and September, when bats are active. If surveys show that bats are present or might be impacted, mitigation measures can be put in place—sometimes it’s as simple as timing the works to avoid sensitive periods or installing bat-friendly features.
What is Appropriate Assessment?
If your project is near a Natura 2000 site (like a Special Area of Conservation or Special Protection Area), you may need to submit an Appropriate Assessment (AA) as part of your planning application. This ensures that the development won’t harm protected habitats or species—including bats. We can help determine whether this is needed, and prepare the necessary reports.
How Wetland Surveys Ireland can help
We offer a range of ecological services to support planning applications and property development, including:
Bat surveys and licensing support
Appropriate Assessment screening and reporting
Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA)
Habitat surveys and mapping
Mitigation plans and monitoring
We understand that dealing with planning requirements can feel overwhelming—especially when protected species are involved. Our job is to guide you through the process, help you meet legal obligations, and ensure that your project supports, rather than harms, Ireland’s biodiversity.
Get in touch
So, this Bat Appreciation Day, spare a thought for our nocturnal neighbours—and if you’re planning works on your property and you’re not sure whether bats might be a factor, just get in touch. We’re happy to chat through what’s involved and how we can help.