“Echoes”

Feedback from  the East Devon AONB ‘Looking out for bats’ initiative – May-December 08

Bat surveys
Over 30 farm bat surveys have been completed. These have shown farmers which of the 17 species of British bats they have living and flying around on their farm. We had more interest in these surveys than was expected; ten farmers have had to wait until the 2009 season. If you would like to find out more about the bats on your farm, why not agree to a survey now. Some farmers were a little concerned about admitting that they had bats in their barns, but those who agreed to the survey will confirm that there was nothing to worry about. Following interest in the AONB stand at the Honiton Show, bat surveys have also been requested by churchwardens and others.

Bat awareness events
Dr Fiona Mathews, local bat expert and Exeter University lecturer, has led events at Lovehayne Farm and at Offwell Woodland Education Centre. The former, for the East Devon Small Woods network, was an introduction to bat ecology and bat detectors, and was also an opportunity to see and hear(!) live bats, like the Natterer’s, right up close. The second event was a bat identification training event and involved setting up a specialist harp trap. It was a real turn-up for the books when Leisler’s Bats were caught – a first record for Devon.

Farm walks
There has been an ADAS led agri-environment walk focussing on bat conservation, attended by 19 local farmers. The aim was to increase awareness of the potential benefits of different Higher Level and Entry Level Stewardship options available, and to offer participants the chance to have a bat survey. At the end of the walk everyone had a chance to listen to the bats with a bat detector. The event was considered to be a great success and we will be repeating it in 2009.

Bat detector training evenings
We have trained 21 bat detectives (batmen and batwomen!) for the project. During the summer they have been patrolling the East Devon countryside and villages with their bat detectors on the hunt for Greater Horseshoe bats. At the same time we are able to start building up a picture of other bat activity too – we are fortunate to have at least 13 of the 17 British bat species in our area.
To date we have 12 records of Greater Horseshoe bats. One is a confirmed maternity roost, of approximately 50 bats.

School visits and youth groups
Following a taster session in schools by the District Council Education Ranger James Chubb, three school visits (Colyton, Beer and Sidbury Primary Schools) gave over 150 local children a chance to experience bats at Beer Quarry Caves, an internationally important bat hibernaculum.

What is ‘Looking out for bats’?
A 3 year landscape-scale bat conservation initiative centred on the Beer Quarry Caves at Beer in the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The initiative is mainly supported by the SITA Trust, with additional contributions from Devon County Council, East Devon District Council, the Sid Vale Association and Axe Vale and District Conservation Society.

http://www.eastdevonaonb.org.uk/Lookingoutforbats.htm
pyoungman@eastdevon.gov.uk

Photo of Greater Horseshoe Bat by Dodoni (Creative Commons License).