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CIE · 08-10-2011, 18:06

Telegraph

Specifically, the Bechstein's Bat. And why do so-called "environmental" groups like "Natural England" get government funds?

corktina · 08-10-2011, 20:14

because their work is as important at least as a railway line.you can make new trains, you cant make new bats.

CIE · 08-10-2011, 21:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by corktina

because their work is as important at least as a railway line.you can make new trains, you cant make new bats.

New bats can make themselves without human help. Trains, not so much.

corktina · 08-10-2011, 21:44

thats ridiculous.If you put a train line through the habitat of a rare speices, there wont be any bats to reproduce . Its important to have watchdogs like this one to make sure things dont get destroyed for commercial gain like they used to.... not just wildlife, but antiquities too...

CIE · 09-10-2011, 01:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by corktina

If you put a train line through the habitat of a rare speices (sic), there won(')t be any bats to reproduce

Now if you actually believe that, can I also get you to believe that I can conjure Guinness out of thin air?

They were saying similar stuff about putting Luas on the former Harcourt Street Railway, remember. All sorts of species of birds and mammals were in danger of extinction...

Guess what: Bats (and other species, especially of birds) can fly. A single train on a high-speed railway isn't going to run all the bats down, or suddenly render them sterile.

Cookie_Monster · 09-10-2011, 05:20

The point is their current breeding habitat will be presumably destroyed by the line being built. Since they are so rare the requirements for breeding areas are probably pretty defined or else they'd breed more and be more widespread.

It could be the it's the only suitable site (cave?) for 100's of miles...

Even if it is not destroyed the noise and vibration caused by the trains may affect the bats so much that they don't breed.

It's definitely a valid concern that needs to be addressed, certainly a much more valid one than some of the silly archaeological ones that come up often enough.

CIE · 09-10-2011, 06:14

None of that will happen.

Cookie_Monster · 09-10-2011, 06:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by CIE

None of that will happen.

how do you know?

CIE · 09-10-2011, 06:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cookie_Monster

how do you know?

If you can cite a single instance of bat populations being decimated due to a railway line (even so-called "rare" bats), by all means show us. Powered railways have been around for the better part of 180 years, and they don't have any significant impact on any wildlife. Not even motorways do. They'll keep on breeding, unless a cause that is not related to humans makes them cease to do so.

As far as bats go, their current greatest enemy is a fungal infection known as white-nose syndrome, and AFAIK that has not reached the UK.

corktina · 09-10-2011, 08:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cookie_Monster

how do you know?

exactly....how do you know? Thats why theres (oops soory there is) a study being called for. You cant (oh wait I forgot the ' ) just abitarily (thats spelt wrong ) state "sure they'll be OK they'll just fly out the way" The wildlife people want a study made to see what the effect on them would be if their HABITAT is damaged.

(btw correcting peoples spelling and grammar, not nice....)

oh and btw..."trains not so much" ?

CIE · 09-10-2011, 15:43

You lads are a riot. Automatic NIMBYism when it comes to railways...where were ye when they were building the M3 through the Hill of Tara though? C'mon, luddism and false environmental outrage can't be limited to railways.

corktina · 09-10-2011, 16:44

you do talk rot. The proposal was to drive the motorway through the valley in which the hill of tara sits., not the avtual hill.back under your bridge mate

Cookie_Monster · 09-10-2011, 21:08

How is it NIMBYism, it's a different country ffs. And the m3 isn't even visible from the hill of tara...

Why even post this if you've no interest in discussing it properly rather than simply trying to make fun of posters?

**Victor** · 10-10-2011, 09:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cookie_Monster

It could be the it's the only suitable site (cave?) for 100's of miles...

I don't know about Bechstein's, but most bats live in cracks in buildings and (mature) trees.

Bats are important as an insect control measure, whihc in turn is an important disease control measure.

purplepanda · 10-10-2011, 21:19

Don't know why they don't rebuild the Great Central Mainline between London & the North of England ?? Would be easier & cheaper IMO!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_C..._%28diagram%29

08-10-2011, 18:06	#1
CIE Closed Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,404 Adverts \| Friends	HS2 vs. rare species of bat Telegraph Specifically, the Bechstein's Bat. And why do so-called "environmental" groups like "Natural England" get government funds?

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08-10-2011, 20:14	#2
corktina Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: not sure Posts: 11,745 Adverts \| Friends	because their work is as important at least as a railway line.you can make new trains, you cant make new bats.

08-10-2011, 21:44	#4
corktina Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: not sure Posts: 11,745 Adverts \| Friends	thats ridiculous.If you put a train line through the habitat of a rare speices, there wont be any bats to reproduce . Its important to have watchdogs like this one to make sure things dont get destroyed for commercial gain like they used to.... not just wildlife, but antiquities too...

09-10-2011, 05:20	#6
Cookie_Monster Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: NP, NI, NZ Posts: 17,261 Adverts \| Friends	The point is their current breeding habitat will be presumably destroyed by the line being built. Since they are so rare the requirements for breeding areas are probably pretty defined or else they'd breed more and be more widespread. It could be the it's the only suitable site (cave?) for 100's of miles... Even if it is not destroyed the noise and vibration caused by the trains may affect the bats so much that they don't breed. It's definitely a valid concern that needs to be addressed, certainly a much more valid one than some of the silly archaeological ones that come up often enough.

09-10-2011, 06:14	#7
CIE Closed Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,404 Adverts \| Friends	None of that will happen.

09-10-2011, 15:43	#11
CIE Closed Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,404 Adverts \| Friends	You lads are a riot. Automatic NIMBYism when it comes to railways...where were ye when they were building the M3 through the Hill of Tara though? C'mon, luddism and false environmental outrage can't be limited to railways.

09-10-2011, 16:44	#12
corktina Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: not sure Posts: 11,745 Adverts \| Friends	you do talk rot. The proposal was to drive the motorway through the valley in which the hill of tara sits., not the avtual hill.back under your bridge mate

09-10-2011, 21:08	#13
Cookie_Monster Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: NP, NI, NZ Posts: 17,261 Adverts \| Friends	How is it NIMBYism, it's a different country ffs. And the m3 isn't even visible from the hill of tara... Why even post this if you've no interest in discussing it properly rather than simply trying to make fun of posters?

10-10-2011, 21:19	#15
purplepanda Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 409 Adverts \| Friends	Don't know why they don't rebuild the Great Central Mainline between London & the North of England ?? Would be easier & cheaper IMO! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_C..._%28diagram%29