20 May 2008
Joining forces for bats
 | May is the time when greater horseshoe bats emerge from winter hibernation and take to the wing to forage. Thanks to the combined efforts of Action for Wildlife: the Dartmoor Biodiversity Project, Natural England, farmers and land managers, within the prime foraging area in Dartmoor National Park, the bats will find it increasingly easy to obtain food. Since 2004, Action for Wildlife has been supported by Natural England, and before that English Nature, to provide and advice and support to help farmers improve bat feeding habitat close to their important breeding roost at Buckfastleigh. |
Greater horseshoe bats were declining until 1995, prompting English Nature to commission a radio-tracking survey in 2003 of bats from the roost at Buckfastleigh, believed to be the largest maternity roost in western Europe. The survey was designed to discover precisely which locations bats go to feed, in order to target efforts to ensure their feeding habits are catered for.
Since 2004, the Action for Wildlife Project has provided advice to land managers and farmers responsible for almost 2,400 acres, and 108km (67 miles) of hedgerows, providing detailed recommendations on the management of valuable features. Half of those visited are known to have taken positive action following this advice, some through agri-environment schemes which support sensitive management, others through voluntary tree planting, hedgerow management or pasture management.
Although Action for Wildlife will be moving on to other projects, Natural England hopes to be able to take back the baton to support land managers in this critical area. As a priority species, the greater horseshoe bat can help secure financial support for beneficial land management.
Action for Wildlife Officer, Frances Cooper said, ' We would like to thank all the farmers and landowners who have worked with us to benefit greater horseshoe bats, taking time out of busy lives to help support them. Lots of wildlife depends on farmland habitats and many farmers will do what they can to help support it, especially when the need is high as it has been for greater horseshoe bats.'
The good news is that greater horseshoe bat numbers are now increasing nationally (they are only found in south west England and south Wales.) It is vital that we continue to work to aid their recovery, and making sure they can find food is a particularly important way we can help.
Ends
For Further Information
Frances Cooper,, Project Officer, Action for Wildlife – The Dartmoor Biodiversity Project.
Tel: (01626) 831027
Cate Jackson, Assistant Project Officer, Action for Wildlife – The Dartmoor Biodiversity Project
Tel: (01626) 831072
Notes for Editors
Greater horseshoe bats feed largely over farmland and so rely on farmers and land managers to provide suitable foraging habitat. They are particularly partial to dung beetles, which are associated with the dung of native breeds of cattle and pony. Beef farms are especially important as are the provision of linear features such as sheltered water courses, tall hedgerows and tree lines which provide the shelter the bats need to reach feeding areas. Haymeadows, scrub and other natural habitats are also of high value.
Action for Wildlife (external link, opens new window): the Dartmoor Biodiversity Project was launched in September 2001. It follows on from the highly successful pilot Dart Biodiversity Project. The project is managed by Dartmoor National Park Authority on behalf of a steering group of funding partners also including; Natural England, the Environment Agency and the Duchy of Cornwall.
The overall aim of Action for Wildlife is to ‘maintain and enhance the wildlife resource of Dartmoor’ by helping people who live and work on Dartmoor to carry out practical action on the ground. The project focuses on key habitats and species identified in Action for Wildlife – The Dartmoor Biodiversity Action Plan , published in 2001 by Dartmoor National Park Authority and reviewed in 2007.
Return to Dartmoor National Park Authority Partnership Project News Releases
This page last updated 20 May 2008
