Bechstein's bat

Features from Wildlife magazine Wildlife articles 2008 -- Spring 2008 -- ::Severn Barrage ::The Variety of life ::A year at Willsbridge ::Willsbridge comes of age ::Reaching out - Willsbridge ::Round the reserves Wildlife articles 2007 -- Autumn 2007 -- ::Thinking BIG ::Watery webs:the pond network ::Wildlife in the landscape ::Variety of life ::How to be a climate friend ::Seasonal stroll - Walborough ::Round the reserves -- Summer 2007 -- ::The Folly Farm appeal ::Weston Big Wood-biodiversity at its best ::The variety of life ::How to capture a butterfly ::How to get to know an orchid ::Seasonal stroll - WestonBigWood ::Reserves update -- Spring 2007 -- ::Folly Farm - a very special place ::Making a difference at Folly Farm ::How find the magic at Folly Farm ::Seasonal stroll at Folly Farm ::Magic spots at Folly Farm ::Batscapes ::Climate challenge ::Variety of Life - the Ponways project ::Round the reserves Wildlife articles 2006 -- Autumn 2006 -- ::The Severn Estuary ::Bird Watch results ::How to identify garden birds ::Making space for wildlife ::How does your garden grow? ::Round the reserves -- Summer 2006 -- ::Going for green ::Stand up and be counted ::Happy birthday NSLMP ::Holi day - a riot of spring colour ::Avon's species-rich grassland ::How to photograph dragonflies ::The Big Switch ::Round the reserves -- Spring 2006 -- ::How to identify winter water birds ::Make 2006 the year you... ::Invasive invasion ::Sowing the seeds: Willsbridge Mill ::Round the reserves Wildlife articles 2005 -- Autumn 2005 -- ::Indentify common funghi ::Build a hedgehog hideaway ::Big Bird Watch ::Champions for wildlife ::Round the reserves ::Seeds of the futre: Willsbridge Mill -- Summer 2005 -- ::Restoring Folly Farm ::How to become bee-friendly ::How to identify the butterflies of spring ::Save our seas ::The variety of life: hedgerows ::Round the reserves ::25 Ways to make a difference -- Spring 2005 -- ::The variety of life: water voles ::The Avon Biodiversity Action Plan ::How to take really good wildlife photos ::How to help your garden grow ::Round the reserves ::Seasonal strolls: Browns Folly ::Sowing the seeds: for wildlife for people ::Sowing the seeds: looking back

The Batscapes project

When you think of why Avon is important for wildlife one of the key species that comes to mind is bats. We are blessed with 14 species of bats from a maximum of 17 UK species, due mostly to the varied landscapes.

However we are internationally important for the numbers of greater horseshoe bats especially around Bath and the Mendips. In the last century these bats have suffered a 95% decline in Britain and along with the lesser horseshoe bat they are now restricted to key areas of South West England and Wales. In response to this threat in 2003 the Trust joined forces with partners* to apply to Heritage Lottery Fund for a Batscapes Project. The term ’Batscapes’ refers to the key role the local landscape plays in the survival of bats. Its aims are to highlight the threats facing bats and to contact landowners to safeguard roost and feeding sites.

Bat-friendly farming
Farmland is of huge importance to horseshoe bats and can provide all the key requirements: insect-rich feeding habitats, roost sites, and flightlines between the two. Farmers therefore play a vital role in the conservation of horseshoe and other bat species. The maintenance and enhancement of these features is vital if the bats are to survive. The Trust contacted farmers during the project and offered free farm visits to give advice on bat-friendly management and to help apply for grant aid. The response was outstanding and in addition to helping horseshoe bat populations to recover, the advice will also produce wider benefits for other bat species and wildlife in general.

Three years on over three quarters of the main project target area is under environmental stewardship schemes all designed to enhance hedgerows, mature trees and important foraging areas. The project has trained more bat volunteers, located important roost sites and accumulated a vast knowledge of how bats use this landscape. The project ends this year but the Trust is committed to safeguarding the long term future of greater horseshoe bats. We have started projects with Wessex Water in St Catherine’s Valley that will continue farm advice visits and we are in our third year of the Mendip Hills Bat and Dormouse project. We have also successful applied for grant funding to safeguard management of Little Solsbury Hill (an important foraging area) near Bath. So we believe the future is much brighter for our local bat populations!

Bats at...

Brown’s Folly
At least twelve of the bat species found in the UK occur on one Trust nature reserve, Brown’s Folly near Bath. This reserve is already a Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is also a candidate Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under the European Union’s Habitats Directive because of its importance as a greater and lesser horseshoe bat hibernating site. During the winter the greater horseshoe bats here hibernate in good numbers throughout the disused Bath stone quarry called Monkton Farleigh Mine. For at least part of the year Brown’s Folly mine is also home to Beckstein’s bat, an even rarer species of bat than greater horseshoe. The range of this rather secretive bat is restricted to areas of ancient semi-natural oak woodland in southern England.

Other bats recorded at Brown’s Folly include high numbers of Daubenton’s and Brandt’s bats, together with occasional Natterer’s, brown long-eared and whiskered bats and lots of lesser horseshoe bats. Brown’s Folly is an important feeding ground for bats, especially the woodland edge along the rides and around the grassland.

Folly Farm
In the past two years as plans for the restoration of the farm buildings gathered pace, intensive surveys have been carried out to determine their nature conservation value. Old data was collated and species were surveyed to determine population levels.The presence of the bats within the farmhouse and dairy was determined using ‘dawn swarming’, where the number of the bats was assessed as they returned to roost. Close scrutiny of any likely roost areas such as the loft spaces and wall cracks were carried out and it was discovered that pipistrelles, long-eared bats, serotines and a lesser horseshoe bat were all using the buildings. The surveys were able to determine their preferred roosting and feeding areas. A purpose-built hibernaculum (a structure for bats to use during winter hibernation) and breeding loft will be carefully incorporated into the design for these unobtrusive mammals.

Weston Big Wood
An exciting new project on this reserve is the building of a bat hibernaculum. Tucked away in the edge of the wood are some old buildings that used to be associated with the quarry. Exactly what they were used for remains a bit of a mystery. Local people seem to think they were originally part of a mini railway that operated around the quarry, moving materials around the site. With a combination of ingenious design and a good portion of elbow grease we have managed to convert them into a structure that provides the stable conditions required by hibernating bats. We hope to specifically attract both greater and lesser horseshoe bats, species that are known to feed in the Gordano Valley.

Did you know..?
Boris, the second-oldest recorded bat in the world, was found at Brown’s Folly in January 2000, an astonishing 28 years after he was first ringed. Boris hit the headlines, putting Brown’s Folly on the international bat map! Boris was one of the greater horseshoe bats who are ringed for research purposes. Information gathered in this way helps increase knowledge and understanding of bat behaviour.

How to address a bat
Arymouse, arymouse, fly over my head
And you shall ha’ a crust o’ bread;
And when I brew an when I bake,
You shall ha’ a piece of my wedding cake.
Traditional

*Batscapes partners – Avon Wildlife Trust, Avon Bat Group, Bath and N E Somerset Council, Natural England, the Bristol Regional Environmental Records Centre, Duchy of Cornwall, FWAG, and South Gloucestershire Council