Thomson Ecology

Bats at Basing House

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Basing House, Hampshire, was originally a Norman castle and then in Tudor times became a stately home that once rivalled Hampton Court Palace in its size and opulence. It suffered at the hands of Oliver Cromwell in the civil war but the evocative ruins and some of the original and rebuilt farm buildings remain.
The farm buildings, including an enormous 16th century Grade I listed tithe barn, have been converted into a new Visitors' Centre and museum, telling the story of this once great estate and the dramatic events of the Civil War. It re-opens with the 'Battle of Basing' on 28th-30th August.
Thomson Ecology, working for Hampshire County Council, has been involved in preserving the ecology of the site. Bats have been a particular concern. Seven protected species were found: common pipistrelle; soprano pipistrelle; noctule; Leisler’s, serotine, brown long-eared and myotis bats. Three of these species were roosting in the buildings and thirty six roosts were found.
We applied for a licence to allow the renovation works to go ahead. The licence application contained detailed plans showing how the effect of the work on the bats would be minimised. These included carrying out works at a time when the bats were least sensitive to disturbance, closing down some old roosts, creating replacement roosts and more roost opportunities by modifying lighting in the Great Barn and making first floor modifications to a cow byre.
Monitoring work carried out so far shows that bats are continuing to use the Great Barn and that there are bats in one of the new roosts. We have installed a remote monitoring device and will check on an on-going basis that the bats continue to use this historic site.