Former Vickers Factory, Gamesley Road, Glossop

FORMER VICKERS FACTORY, GAMESLEY ROAD, GLOSSOP

Ecology Works Following Granting of Demolition Consent

Prepared for: Pendragon Estate Developments Ltd

SLR Ref: 424.07844.00001 Version No: 1 March 2018 Pendragon Estate Developments Ltd SLR Ref No: 424.07844.00001 Ecology Works Following the Granting of Demolition Consent March 2018

BASIS OF REPORT

This document has been prepared by SLR Consulting Limited with reasonable skill, care and diligence, and taking account of the manpower, timescales and resources devoted to it by agreement with Pendragon Estate Developments Ltd (the Client) as part or all of the services it has been appointed by the Client to carry out. It is subject to the terms and conditions of that appointment.

SLR shall not be liable for the use of or reliance on any information, advice, recommendations and opinions in this document for any purpose by any person other than the Client. Reliance may be granted to a third party only in the event that SLR and the third party have executed a reliance agreement or collateral warranty.

Information reported herein may be based on the interpretation of public domain data collected by SLR, and/or information supplied by the Client and/or its other advisors and associates. These data have been accepted in good faith as being accurate and valid.

The copyright and intellectual property in all drawings, reports, specifications, bills of quantities, calculations and other information set out in this report remain vested in SLR unless the terms of appointment state otherwise.

This document may contain information of a specialised and/or highly technical nature and the Client is advised to seek clarification on any elements which may be unclear to it.

Information, advice, recommendations and opinions in this document should only be relied upon in the context of the whole document and any documents referenced explicitly herein and should then only be used within the context of the appointment.

Pendragon Estate Developments Ltd SLR Ref No: 424.07844.00001 Ecology Works Following the Granting of Demolition Consent March 2018

CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION ...... 2

2.0 METHODOLOGY ...... 2

3.0 RESULTS OF BUILDING INSPECTIONS ...... 2

4.0 ERECTION OF FOUR TREE-MOUNTED BAT BOXES ...... 3

APPENDICES

Appendix A: Former Vickers Factory, Gamesley Road, Glossop: Results of February 2018 Building Inspection for Bats

Appendix B: Drawing 1: Location of Tree-Mounted Bat Boxes

Pendragon Estate Developments Ltd SLR Ref No: 424.07844.00001 Ecology Works Following the Granting of Demolition Consent March 2018

1.0 Introduction

SLR Consulting Limited was commissioned by Pendragon Limited to discharge a series of ecology-related conditions associated with demolition consent1 at the former Vickers factory off Glossop Road, Gamesley. Specifically, these conditions state: 1. Demolition of the building shall be carried out in accordance with the…..Bat Method Statement (Feb 2018) prepared by SLR; 6. Prior to the commencement of any demolition works, a nesting bird check shall be carried out by a suitably qualified person in accordance with the Bat Method Statement (Feb 2018). The applicant shall upon completion of these checks, submit a report detailing the findings and any further required mitigation measures, if required, to the Local Planning Authority for approval, in writing. Demolition shall be carried out in accordance with the approved mitigation; and 7. Photographic evidence of the 4 x bat boxes on boundary trees, as per the Bat Method Statement (2018) shall be submitted to the local planning authority following the works in accordance with the submitted plan (Drawing 1: Location of 4 x tree-mounted bat boxes).

2.0 Methodology

A site visit was therefore undertaken by Mr Andrew Hill ACIEEM, Ecologist with SLR Consulting, on the 28th of March 2018. Mr Hill is an experienced ornithologist, and holder of a Natural England Class 2 Bat Survey Licence (number 2018-33316-CLS-CLS). Survey work was aided by the use of binoculars, a powerful Clulite torch, fibre-optic endoscope, flexi-torch and flexi-mirror. 3.0 Results of Building Inspections

In accordance with the Bat Method Statement2, immediately following the granting of Demolition Consent, the building was subject to a detailed inspection, and no signs of roosting bats were found. This followed on from an earlier survey, carried out on the 23rd of February 2018, also by Mr Andrew Hill, in which at height inspections of potential roosting features were undertaken from a cherry picker, and no signs of occupation by roosting bats were found. Those features which could be comprehensively searched and which were not found to support bats, or evidence of previous occupation by bats, such as droppings, were therefore blocked using rock wool, as a precaution (refer to Appendix A).

______1 Consent reference DET/2018/0002, dated 28th March 2018, from High Peak Borough Council. 2 SLR Consulting (February 2018) Former Vickers Factory, Glossop Road, Gamesley Bat Method Statement.

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Pendragon Estate Developments Ltd SLR Ref No: 424.07844.00001 Ecology Works Following the Granting of Demolition Consent March 2018

Similarly, no signs of active bird nests were found, either on the 28th of February, or the 28th of March 2018. The only signs of recent occupation by birds related to a number of feral pigeon (Columba livia) droppings, particularly on ledges. Demolition therefore commenced, and is scheduled to be completed (with the exception of the brown long- eared bat (Plecotus auritus) night roost, which is located in the north-eastern corner) after approximately six working days. The demolition contractors must remain vigilant, especially if demolition works are stopped over Easter; should signs of breeding birds be noted, demolition must stop locally, and advice sought from SLR Consulting. As recommended following the February 2018 at height inspections, the demolition of the gap around the doorway, on the northern side of the building (Point D in Appendix A) shall be supervised by a Natural England licensed bat ecologist, as this cavity was too deep to search thoroughly, and therefore was not blocked with rock wool. Demolition of the former night roost shall take place following the granting of a Low Impact Bat Class Licence, which is due to be determined in approximately 7-10 days. 4.0 Erection of Four Tree-Mounted Bat Boxes

In accordance with the Bat Method Statement, four bat boxes were erected on trees along the wooded southern site boundary (in accordance with Drawing 1 – refer to Appendix B), and the plates below. Each of the boxes was erected at a height of at least four metres, facing south to east.

Plate 1: The first of the four bat boxes placed on ash tree to the south of the site.

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Pendragon Estate Developments Ltd SLR Ref No: 424.07844.00001 Ecology Works Following the Granting of Demolition Consent March 2018

Plate 2: The second of the four bat boxes placed on ash tree to the south of the site.

Plate 3: The remaining two of the four bat boxes placed on an ash tree to the south west of the site.

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APPENDIX A

Former Vickers Factory, Gamesley Road, Glossop: Results of February 2018 Building Inspection for Bats

FORMER VICKERS FACTORY, GAMESLEY ROAD, GLOSSOP

Results of February 2018 Building Inspection for Bats

Prepared for: Pendragon Estate Developments Ltd

SLR Ref: 424.07844.00001 Version No: 1 March 2018 Pendragon Estate Developments Ltd Results of February 2018 Building Inspection for Bats SLR Ref No: 424.07844.00001 Filename: 180301_424.07844.00001.Building Inspection Report v1 March 2018 (2)

BASIS OF REPORT

This document may contain information of a specialised and/or highly technical nature and the Client is advised to seek clarification on any elements which may be unclear to it.

Pendragon Estate Developments Ltd Results of February 2018 Building Inspection for Bats SLR Ref No: 424.07844.00001 Filename: 180301_424.07844.00001.Building Inspection Report v1 March 2018 (2)

CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION ...... 2 1.1 Terms of Reference ...... 2 1.2 Site Description and Proposals ...... 2 1.3 Relevant legislation ...... 2

2.0 METHODOLOGY ...... 3

3.0 RESULTS ...... 4 3.1 Point A...... 4 3.2 Point B ...... 6 3.3 Point C ...... 7 3.4 Point D ...... 8 3.5 Point E ...... 10 3.6 Point F ...... 12 3.7 Search of former night roost ...... 14

4.0 DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ...... 16

DOCUMENT REFERENCES

DRAWINGS Drawing 1: Potential Bat Roosting Features (taken from Bat Method Statement)

Pendragon Estate Developments Ltd Results of February 2018 Building Inspection for Bats SLR Ref No: 424.07844.00001 Filename: 180301_424.07844.00001.Building Inspection Report v1 March 2018 (2)

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Terms of Reference

SLR Consulting Limited was commissioned by Pendragon Limited to undertake an update, including elevated, bat survey at the former Vickers factory located off Glossop Road, Gamesley. The findings reported here supplement surveys undertaken by SLR in 20141 and December 2017 - January 20182, which revealed that a brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus) night roost was located in a small upstairs room in north-east corner of the factory building during 2014, but that this had become discussed by late 2017/ early 2018. This report updates this earlier work, and describes the results of further detailed inspections of features identified as having potential, albeit mostly low potential, to support roosting bats, as identified in the earlier Bat Method Statement2.

1.2 Site Description and Proposals

The site is located immediately to the south of Glossop Road, on the southern fringe of Gamesley, Derbyshire (OS grid reference SK01185 94159). It consists of a former Vickers factory building, measuring circa 75 metres x 45 metres, which is disused and in a very poor state, with much broken glass, including large shards suspected from a ‘north light’ roof which covers the majority of the building. The majority of the glass forming the ‘north light’ roof has already fallen, creating an open, draughty and wet interior. Despite its poor condition, the building is being repeatedly entered and vandalised, and is therefore considered to pose a significant health and safety risk. Demolition Consent has been applied for, and is in the process of being determined by High Peak Borough Council. In order to avoid potentially disturbing nesting birds, demolition of the majority of the building shall take place prior to mid-March 2018, subject to demolition consent being granted in time. If this is not possible, and demolition occurs from mid-March 2018 onwards, a search shall first be made for evidence of nesting birds, by a suitably qualified ecologist.

1.3 Relevant legislation3

In England, all British bats and their roosts are protected under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010, which defines European protected species, and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as ______1 SLR Consulting, Extended Phase I Habitat Survey and Bat Surveys of Land off Glossop Road, Gamesley, December 2014 (SLR reference 424.04033.00003). 2 SLR Consulting, Bat Method Statement for former Vickers Factory, Glossop Road, Gamesley, February 2018 (SLR reference 424.07844.00001). 3 Please note that this legal information is a summary and intended for general guidance only. The original legal documents should be consulted for definitive information. Web addresses providing access to the full text of these documents are given in the References & Bibliography section.

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Pendragon Estate Developments Ltd Results of February 2018 Building Inspection for Bats SLR Ref No: 424.07844.00001 Filename: 180301_424.07844.00001.Building Inspection Report v1 March 2018 (2) amended by the Countryside & Rights of Way Act 2000 and the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006. These pieces of legislation combine to give substantial protection to bats and their roost sites, making it an offence to: Deliberately/intentionally kill, injure or take a bat;

Damage, destroy or obstruct access to any place that a bat uses for shelter or protection (this is taken to mean all bat roosts whether bats are present or not); or Deliberately/intentionally or recklessly disturb4 bats. The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 places a duty on authorities to have due regard for biodiversity and nature conservation during the course of their operations. 2.0 Methodology

Features identified as having potential to support roosting bats in the Bat Method Statement5 (illustrated in Drawing 1) were subject to a detailed search for evidence of roosting bats, including those features located at height, which were inspected from a cherry picker. Where it was possible to undertake a comprehensive inspection of the feature concerned and no evidence of occupation by bats was found, these features were blocked with rock wool, as a precaution. The interior of the building, including the former night roost, was also thoroughly inspected for evidence of recent occupation by bats, such as fresh bat droppings, and feeding signs. This work was undertaken on the 23rd February 2018 by Natural England Level 2 Bat Licenced ecologist Mr Andrew Hill (licence number 2018-33316-CLS-CLS). Surveys were aided by the use of a powerful Clulite torch, fibre-optic endoscope, flexi-torch and flexi-mirror.

______4 Disturbance, as defined by the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010, includes in particular any action which impairs the ability of animals to survive, breed, rear their young, hibernate or migrate (where relevant); or which affects significantly the local distribution or abundance of the species. 5 SLR Consulting, Bat Method Statement for former Vickers Factory, Glossop Road, Gamesley, February 2018 (SLR reference 424.07844.00001).

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Pendragon Estate Developments Ltd Results of February 2018 Building Inspection for Bats SLR Ref No: 424.07844.00001 Filename: 180301_424.07844.00001.Building Inspection Report v1 March 2018 (2)

3.0 Results

No bats or evidence of occupation by roosting bats was found within any of the features identified as having potential to support them (Points A-E in Drawing 1), as described below-. Furthermore, no signs of recent occupation by bats were found in the part of the building formerly supporting the brown long-eared bat night roost, or within surrounding rooms.

3.1 Point A

Point A is located on the western aspect of the building, and consists of a vertical expansion joint between bricks, extending from ground-level to the upper cladding (Plate 1). A thin strip of wood is present within the majority of this joint, which has rotted away in places, most notably at the top, where it meets the metal sheeting, however, this contained a large number of cobwebs (Plate 2), indicating that that had been no movement of bats into or out of this void, in the recent past. As no signs of roosting bats were found, the joint was blocked with rock wool, as a precaution (Plate 3).

Plate 1: Point A, a vertical expansion joint between bricks; a strip of wood is present within the majority of the cavity, although a small void is present towards the top, where the wood is absent.

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Pendragon Estate Developments Ltd Results of February 2018 Building Inspection for Bats SLR Ref No: 424.07844.00001 Filename: 180301_424.07844.00001.Building Inspection Report v1 March 2018 (2)

Plate 2: gap at top of expansion joint where wood is missing; thick cobwebs indicate that there has been no recent movement of bats into/ out of this feature, in the recent past, and no signs of bats (such as droppings) were recorded.

Plate 3: Expansion Joint blocked with rock wool.

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Pendragon Estate Developments Ltd Results of February 2018 Building Inspection for Bats SLR Ref No: 424.07844.00001 Filename: 180301_424.07844.00001.Building Inspection Report v1 March 2018 (2)

3.2 Point B

Point B is located on the west facing side of the factory building and consists of a vertical expansion joint above and immediately to the right of a small area of breeze block wall (Plate 4). Upon close inspection, the base contained the remains of crumbling mortar (Plate 5) and the expansion joint did not extend into a cavity. No signs of occupation by bats were found, so the gap was subsequently blocked with rock wool (Plate 6).

Plate 4: Expansion joint above section of breeze block wall.

Plate 5: Interior of expansion joint, containing loose brick and mortar, without signs of occupation by bats.

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Pendragon Estate Developments Ltd Results of February 2018 Building Inspection for Bats SLR Ref No: 424.07844.00001 Filename: 180301_424.07844.00001.Building Inspection Report v1 March 2018 (2)

Plate 6: Expansion joint blacked with rock wool.

3.3 Point C

Point C consists of sections of roofing felt that overlap the roof in places, on the east and western aspects of the factory building (Plate 7). From the initial ground-based assessment it appeared as though that these sections of overlapping felt could potentially provide roosting opportunities for bats, but from elevated inspection, it was discovered that the roof lining was fused to a layer of galvanised metal (Plate 8). This is uniform across the roof of the factory building making this feature unsuitable for roosting bats.

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Pendragon Estate Developments Ltd Results of February 2018 Building Inspection for Bats SLR Ref No: 424.07844.00001 Filename: 180301_424.07844.00001.Building Inspection Report v1 March 2018 (2)

Plate 7, Roof of factory building, of which sections of roofing felt overlap.

Plate 8: Roof felt removed showing galvanised metal underneath; the metal sits firmly against the top of the factory building, rendering this feature unsuitable for roosting bats.

3.4 Point D

Point D is located on the northern aspect of the factory building and consists of several gaps around a doorway, above a short flight of steps (Plate 9). The gaps around the door lead into a shallow cavity above the door, several small gaps on the left side of the door (Plate 10) and a larger gap on the right of the door. The gap to the right of the doorway leads to the cavity wall, but is low down in the doorway. No evidence of occupation by bats was found in any of the cavities around the door, and the voids above and to the left of the door (Plate 11) was filled with rock wool. However, the gap to the right of the doorway was too extensive to search thoroughly, and so it was not sealed with rock wool.

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Pendragon Estate Developments Ltd Results of February 2018 Building Inspection for Bats SLR Ref No: 424.07844.00001 Filename: 180301_424.07844.00001.Building Inspection Report v1 March 2018 (2)

Plate 9: Point D, a doorway blacked up with breeze blocks, cavities occur above and to the left and right of the doorway, the most extensive of which leads off to the right.

Plate 10: Gap in mortar on the right side of doorway, blocked with rock wool.

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Pendragon Estate Developments Ltd Results of February 2018 Building Inspection for Bats SLR Ref No: 424.07844.00001 Filename: 180301_424.07844.00001.Building Inspection Report v1 March 2018 (2)

Plate 11: Gap in brickwork leading to cavity wall, which runs along the length of the building, as viewed from the right of the doorway.

3.5 Point E

Point E consists of several boarded up windows high up along the full length of the northern elevation (Plates 12 and 13). Many of the windows were broken, meaning that no cavity was present between glass and board, and internal light levels were generally high, reducing their potential for roosting bats (Plate 14). No signs of occupation by bats were found and these features do not appear to have appreciable potential of supporting roosting bats.

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Pendragon Estate Developments Ltd Results of February 2018 Building Inspection for Bats SLR Ref No: 424.07844.00001 Filename: 180301_424.07844.00001.Building Inspection Report v1 March 2018 (2)

Plate 12: Boarded up windows on the northern elevation on the outside of the factory building.

Plate 13: Internal view of boarded up windows on the northern elevation on the inside of the factory building, illustrating high internal light levels.

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Pendragon Estate Developments Ltd Results of February 2018 Building Inspection for Bats SLR Ref No: 424.07844.00001 Filename: 180301_424.07844.00001.Building Inspection Report v1 March 2018 (2)

Plate 14: Close up view of a typical bordered up window, showing broken glass broken and therefore the absence of a cavity.

3.6 Point F

Point F consists of a crack up the brickwork in north-eastern corner of factory (behind a ladder fixed to the wall), facing east (Plate 15). Upon close inspection, the majority of the crack did not lead to any substantial crevices, and the remaining crevices contained numerous cobwebs (Plate 16), indicating that they had not been recently-used by roosting bats. These gaps were therefore subsequently blocked with rock wool (Plate 17).

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Pendragon Estate Developments Ltd Results of February 2018 Building Inspection for Bats SLR Ref No: 424.07844.00001 Filename: 180301_424.07844.00001.Building Inspection Report v1 March 2018 (2)

Plates 15 and 16: Crack running down the side of the brickwork of the factory building on the eastern elevation. Upon close inspection, most of the crack did not lead to a cavity, and those that did contained cobwebs.

Plate 17: Crack along the eastern elevation after it had been blocked with rock wool.

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Pendragon Estate Developments Ltd Results of February 2018 Building Inspection for Bats SLR Ref No: 424.07844.00001 Filename: 180301_424.07844.00001.Building Inspection Report v1 March 2018 (2)

3.7 Search of former night roost

Several old bat droppings, of a size and shape consistent with brown long-eared bat droppings, were found on the shelves and floor of the former night roost, but no fresh signs of occupation by bats were noted (Plate 19). A cupboard which led to a water tank room, close to the former night roost, was searched for signs of hibernating bats (Plate 20), but none were found.

Plate 18: View from outside the kitchenette where the former night roost was located.

Plate 19: Old bat droppings on a shelf within the Kitchenette.

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Pendragon Estate Developments Ltd Results of February 2018 Building Inspection for Bats SLR Ref No: 424.07844.00001 Filename: 180301_424.07844.00001.Building Inspection Report v1 March 2018 (2)

Plate 20: shaft with water tank, searched for signs of hibernating bats; none were found.

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Pendragon Estate Developments Ltd Results of February 2018 Building Inspection for Bats SLR Ref No: 424.07844.00001 Filename: 180301_424.07844.00001.Building Inspection Report v1 March 2018 (2)

4.0 Discussion and Recommendations

A detailed inspection, including an elevated survey from a cherry picker, of those features appearing to have potential to support roosting bats, as described within the Bat Method Statement, did not result in any evidence of occupation by roosting bats being found. Some of these features have, upon closer inspection, less potential to support roosting bats than they appeared to have, from earlier ground-based assessments. Other features could be comprehensively searched, and were found not to contain bats, or evidence of occupation by bats, but to be heavily cob-webbed, indicating that they had not been recently used by roosting bats; such features were subsequently blocked with rock wool, as a precaution.

A gap to the right of a doorway on the northern aspect of the building (Point D), led into a cavity, which could not be comprehensively searched. Even though no evidence of occupation by bats was found within this cavity, and it was not assessed as having appreciable potential to support roosting bats, demolition of this part of the building shall be supervised by a Natural England licensed bat ecologist, as a precaution. If demolition does not occur until after mid-March, the building is subject to breeding bird survey by a qualified ecologist, immediately prior to demolition taking place.

No evidence of recent occupation by bats was found within the former night roost, located in the north-eastern part of the building, suggesting that this roost has not been active for some time.

Nonetheless, as it is a former night roost, an application is being made to Natural England to demolish this particular part of the building under a Low Impact Bat Class Licence (LIBCL), and this report shall be used as supporting evidence in this application process. The crack in the brickwork on the exterior of this part of the building (Point F; Plates 15 and 16) was inspected and not found to support any evidence of occupation by bats and hence was blocked with rock wool, as a precaution.

As stated in the Bat Method Statement, four bat boxes (two wooden and two woodcrete) shall be erected on trees located on the wooded slope leading down to the railway line, on the far side of the arable field to the south of the factory building.

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DRAWING 1

Locations of Potential Bat Roosting Features (taken from Bat Method Statement)

EUROPEAN OFFICES

United Kingdom .

AYLESBURY LEEDS T: +44 (0)1844 337380 T: +44 (0)113 258 0650

BELFAST LONDON T: +44 (0)28 9073 2493 T: +44 (0)203 805 6418

BRADFORD-ON-AVON MAIDSTONE T: +44 (0)1225 309400 T: +44 (0)1622 609242

BRISTOL MANCHESTER T: +44 (0)117 906 4280 T: +44 (0)161 872 7564

CAMBRIDGE NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE T: + 44 (0)1223 813805 T: +44 (0)191 261 1966

CARDIFF NOTTINGHAM T: +44 (0)29 2049 1010 T: +44 (0)115 964 7280

CHELMSFORD SHEFFIELD T: +44 (0)1245 392170 T: +44 (0)114 245 5153

EDINBURGH SHREWSBURY T: +44 (0)131 335 6830 T: +44 (0)1743 23 9250

EXETER STAFFORD T: + 44 (0)1392 490152 T: +44 (0)1785 241755

GLASGOW STIRLING T: +44 (0)141 353 5037 T: +44 (0)1786 239900

GUILDFORD WORCESTER T: +44 (0)1483 889800 T: +44 (0)1905 751310

Ireland France

DUBLIN GRENOBLE T: + 353 (0)1 296 4667 T: +33 (0)6 23 37 14 14

APPENDIX B

Drawing 1 (referred to in Demolition Consent) identifying the proposed location for the four x tree-mounted bat boxes