Funding boost for Great horseshoe bats in Somerset

09/07/2007 00:00:00 October 2007. Somerset Wildlife Trust has received a grant of almost £18,000 from Biffaward for its project to protect the Greater Horseshoe Bat in Harridge Woods.

The greater horseshoe bat is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) priority species and the Mendip Hills (an area from Cheddar to the Mells Valley) are nationally important for them. Numbers of greater horseshoe bat have declined significantly throughout northern Europe, and in the UK is restricted to south-west England and south Wales. The bats have declined due to the loss and destruction of roosting and hibernation sites, as well as the loss of insect-rich feeding habitats.

This project, managed by East Mendips Reserves Officer Rob Turner, will help stop the decline by providing additional roosting and breeding in the Trust’s derelict cottage in Harridge Woods, and improve conservation management of the reserve to extend the range of habitats available for bats to roost, breed and feed.
The grant will also monitor bat populations to provide baseline data and a report which will be carried out by specialist volunteers.

Rob Turner said: ‘We are delighted to have received this funding boost from Biffaward. The Mells Valley is a stunning nature reserve covering a large area. This money means we can continue the important conservation work in this area and help boost numbers of the greater horseshoe bat.’

Biffaward is a multi-million pound environment fund managed by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, using landfill tax credits donated by Biffa Waste Services. Its Chairman, Martin Bettington, said ‘Biffaward is delighted to support this project, which marks a real investment in our natural environment and biodiversity.’

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