Ref.: westpress.co.uk
http://www.westpress.co.uk/displayNode. ... K=13081839
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TUNNEL VISION MAKES A BAT'S IDEAL HOME
09:30 - 26 August 2005
A Long-forgotten railway tunnel in the countryside near Bristol is having a new lease of life as a maternity ward for bats, it was revealed yesterday. The newly converted cave, in a secret location, includes adaptations perfect for the breeding of rare bats.
It is hoped the new habitat will boost the local populations of endangered species such as the lesser horseshoe, greater horseshoe, pipistrelle and brown longeared bats.
The tunnel, part of a disused quarry, is being fitted with a heater and incubator for the newborn animals in a project funded by Defra.
The cave also includes a special hibernation area to allow the bats to hang on battens and hide behind crevices, as well as temperature loggers to record underground conditions and provide the optimumhabitat for the creatures.
David Trump, an adviser for the Rural Development Service (RDS) in the South West, explained: "This is a unique development for the farmer, landowner, local bat experts and RDS.
"We are hoping it will encourage bats to come and breed in these old tunnel workings.
We have already seen encouraging signs with lesser horseshoe bat droppings already found in the cave. We're hoping the conditions provided by the 'maternity unit' will mean lots more bats use the facilities to rear their offspring."
Many of Britain's 17 bat species depend on built structures for roosting and hibernating sites.
Colin Catto, director of conservation for the Bat Conservation Trust, said: "We appreciate the support on this project as it will mean our bat numbers are safeguarded and hopefully will increase as a result of the work being done here."
It is hoped the project will help North Somerset's aim to boost the population of the greater horseshoe bats by 25 per cent within five years.
Biodiversity Minister Jim Knight said a number of bats in the UK were priority species including the barbastelle, pipistrelle, greater and lesser horseshoe, and the rare Bechstein's bat.
"We have already lost species like the greater mouseeared bat, which has been extinct in the UK since 1990," he said.
"We need to ensure we all act now, so that we don't lose any more bat species."
Tunnel vision makes a bat's ideal home
Re: Tunnel vision makes a bat's ideal home
Hmmmm, shall we play spot the location?ajr wrote:A Long-forgotten railway tunnel in the countryside near Bristol is having a new lease of life as a maternity ward for bats, it was revealed yesterday. The newly converted cave, in a secret location,
The tunnel, part of a disused quarry,
I reckon it's got to be either Grovesend or Willsbridge. Out of those two Grovesend is the only one connected to a quarry. However, Willsbridge has been mentioned as being a home to bats in the past. (and a colliery isn't that much different to a quarry as far as some journalists I know are concerned)
I was at Willsbridge a weekend or two ago and spotted a rather nice hole in the fence that surronds the site. I would have clambered through and got some pics for the website only I didn't think it was a good idea to take the kids through there. Bit bumpy for the pram too. I really must get back there soon.