ecosulis ltd was commissioned to undertake an Extended Phase 1 Habitat survey of land for the Batscapes Project within Wiltshire. 

The Batscapes project focused on four Wiltshire sites - Box Mines, Winsley Mines, Fonthill Grottoes and Chilmark Quarries, designated as Special Areas of Conservation for their important bat roosts, particularly of Greater -Horseshoe Bat, one of Britain’s rarest mammals. 

This involved gathering baseline information on existing vegetation and land use around these sites, in order to determine the areas that bats are likely to use for foraging and dispersal; and identifying the presence of any important habitats for bats.

The information gained as a result of this survey will enable English Nature to determine consultation zones and highlight areas that should be targeted for appropriate habitat management. The data collated also provided the basis for further research and liaison with land and property owners in the area.