This building was very interesting to visit.  The property is the former Mines Rescue Station in Chesterfield, which is going to be redeveloped into luxury flats.  Most recently it was used by Chesterfield College as an art department.  The interesting thing for me is that there is a flooded cellar which was created for mine rescue practice! The cellar training galleries have various tunnels and practice areas that used to be used by the rescue teams. They even lit fires down there to create smoke to work in.   More information on the training area can be read here.

My survey found that there were no places for bats to roost above ground, but that the training area would be ideal for hibernating bats.  Bats didn’t have access to the cellar, but we noticed that the Client’s pumping operations to drain it uncovered a gap, which was filled before bats would be able to find it.