Local Residents Go Batty!

Despite Friday’s very wet weather, 52 people braved the elements for the first of this year’s guided ‘Bat Walks around the Three Brooks Nature Reserve in Bradley Stoke.

After a welcome from the Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group (3BNCG) and a brief talk from Bekki Farrar of TVC (The Conservation Volunteers), bat species guides & ‘bat detectors were loaned out and were tuned in to 45kHz since most British bat calls sweep through this frequency.

The group walked around the reserve and up to the lake where bats can often be seen swooping over the lake catching insects. They were shown the bat boxes in Savages wood but as bats are a protected species the boxes were not opened.

Courtney age 6 from Severn Beach (with bat detector and Rainbow Girl-Guide mascot Olivia)  commented   “It was fun walking in the dark! ”

The species most commonly found at the reserve are Noctule, Pipistrelle and Daubenton bats. You can tell what species of bat you have found by the sound that the dector picks up, Pipistrelle calls are describes as smacks or slaps whilst the call of the Daubenton bat would be described as a tick. Although for the first time this year crickets were keen to get in on the act and the detectors often picked them up too!

The next two Bat walks are on Friday 14^th September, meet at Bradley Stoke leisure centre at 7:15 pm and Friday 12th October meeting at 6:10 pm. Please bring a torch and wear suitable footwear. All the 3BNCG Guided walks are free.

The group are also hoping to obtain a grant so that, with a valid library card, Guides and Bat Detectors can be borrowed from Bradley Stoke library. If you would be interested in this please let them know, either through their Facebook page or emailing at:   [email protected]

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