Children's Author Fined for Bat Roost Destruction During Church Renovation

In a striking case of social media backfiring, children's author Jonathan Wedge has been fined for the unauthorized destruction of bat roosts during his ambitious renovation of a historic church in Dorset. Wedge, who documented his renovation journey on Instagram, faced legal repercussions after inadvertently revealing his disregard for wildlife protections.

The Grade II-listed Church of St Thomas, located in the quiet village of East Orchard, had been in disrepair for years before Wedge purchased it in 2022. With dreams of transforming the Gothic structure into a family home, he began sharing updates with his nearly 16,000 followers on social media. However, his posts led to scrutiny when they indicated that construction commenced without the necessary precautions for protecting local bat species.

Wedge, a former investment manager turned author, pleaded guilty to four charges related to damage against each bat species affected, including the soprano pipistrelle and the brown long-eared bat. The court learned that his renovation efforts began in December 2023, despite the legal requirement to establish a bat loft and ensure the bats were safely excluded prior to starting any work. He was subsequently fined £1,200 and ordered to pay £500 to the Bat Conservation Trust.

Source: www.independent.co.uk