SPECIAL vents are being placed in 19th century gate lodges at Newport's Tredegar House - after evidence of protected whiskered bats was found in the buildings.

The gate lodges which date back to 1879 are on the Newport City Council Buildings at risk register and are currently in the process of being refurbished.

A bat survey was carried out on estate due to the National Trust which runs Tredegar House, applying to the council's planning department to put a new roof on the two Lodges.

Bat guano (droppings) was found on the attic floor of the east lodge during the survey which was sent to Warwick University for DNA testing. The test showed that the dung belonged to whiskered bats which are a small breed of European bats.

The trust hopes to re-slate the roof with 60 per cent of the original Welsh slate and introduce three bat vents in the south elevation of the lodges. The building is a bat roost and is protected by law which means access must be provided to bats until spring.

Bat gaps of between 12-15mm high and 50mm wide are proposed to be installed under ridge-cappings on each side of the chimney stack. A breathable bat friendly membrane will also be laid for the roof.

The trust has also put in an application to carry out emergency repair work by removing two rows of ashlar stone from the top of the chimney stack on the east wing of Tredegar House itself, which is a Grade I listed building, constructed between 1664 and 1672 by Sir William Morgan.

This will be part of the mansion’s roof refurbishment programme in 2016 which is currently the subject of a structural survey. The cost of the renovations will become clear then.

Jo Cartwright, Tredegar House general manager, said: “We are delighted that restoration work is now under way to return them to their former glory.

"They are beautiful buildings in their own right and lots of people drive past them every day. We are starting with the external structures to make sure they are water tight while we work out what we are going to do with the insides.”

She added: “We are a conservation charity and our Tredegar House team would like to thank everyone who visits for their support in helping us to care for this special place. Every penny that is spent at Tredegar stays here, from car park money to cups of tea in the tea room, it all goes towards our restoration fund."

For more information about how to help this essential work contact getinvolvedtredegar@nationaltrust.org.uk