Spinney Farm
Location: Lincolnshire
Services Used
Species Found
Bats
Ecological Constraints & Opportunities
A rural barn in Lincolnshire provided one of the more unexpected and rewarding projects Whitcher Wildlife Ltd has worked on in recent years. Despite the building’s relatively poor connectivity to the surrounding landscape, early surveys suggested the presence of a small number of common pipistrelle and brown long-eared bats. While not unusual in themselves, further investigation revealed that the site was far more significant than first anticipated.
Roost Confirmation & Monitoring
As part of the assessment process, bat droppings were submitted for mixed-species DNA analysis, which confirmed the presence of barbastelle bats, a rare species right at the north extent of its UK Range. To better understand how the building was being used, static detectors were deployed to determine whether bats were simply foraging within the barn or roosting on site. During follow-up visits, a small colony of barbastelles was recorded actively foraging within an internal room of the barn during poor weather conditions, before returning to roost. This behaviour allowed the precise roost location to be identified and confirmed.
Balancing Development & Conservation
Whitcher Wildlife Ltd provided comprehensive ecological support throughout the project, from survey design and analysis through to the development of a bespoke mitigation strategy. This included a combination of partial roost retention within the existing structure and the design of a standalone, purpose-built bat barn to provide long-term roosting provision. The project was supported by a highly engaged client who recognised the importance of protecting this species and fully supported the additional survey effort and mitigation required. The result was a robust, practical solution that safeguarded the barbastelle roost while allowing the project to move forward responsibly.