The number of very rare Greater Horseshoe bats in Buckfastleigh has plummeted during 2024. Some of the bats have certainly died, but we think that many survivors have moved to roosts in neighbouring areas. We want to get an estimate of how many bats remain here in Buckfastleigh, and how they are moving about the town and landscape. Can you help?
We are looking for volunteers to take time to survey the 8 sites shown on the map below at sunset during September and October. (Sunset times can be seen on the Met Office app and the bats usually emerge 5-10 minutes later.)
Simply go to your chosen site around 5 minutes after sunset and see how many Greater Horseshoe Bats you can see. Don’t worry about an exact count, “none”, “a few”, “around 30”, or “loads” will help give us a good idea of what is happening.
Count as many times and in as many places as you can, to build up a big picture.
Once you have completed your observations, please send an email to jennymurphy44@gmail.com and pam@bebuckfastleigh.co.uk and tell us:
1. The date of your survey.
2. The map location number.
3. Your estimate of the number of GHBs seen.
4. Your name and contact details.
5. Any other information e.g. if it is very cold, or raining.
A small number of bat detectors are available to borrow from the Be Buckfastleigh Living Room by arrangement. Please return them for others to use. Set the frequency to 86 kHz and do avoid using the torch while looking for bats. Email hello@bebuckfastleigh.co.uk to arrange a suitable time.
The sites we would like monitored are:
1. By Abbey Inn, at the downstream end of the terrace: here the bats cross Buckfast Road from the hillside into the Dart. Maybe with a cool glass of something to hand!
2. On the Dart just below the layby on Buckfast Road between The Abbey Inn and upstream from the Dart Bridge roundabout.
3. At the very top of the Church steps by the turning circle at Holy Trinity Church.
4. The junction of the Church steps with the path above the allotments.
5. The Millennium Green by the little wooden gate leading to Strode Road, to see bats entering the Mardle.
6. The bridge over the Mardle in Market Street. Bats fly upstream from by the factories.
7. Under the A38 flyover on Old Totnes Road where the bats fly up from the Mardle and into Bigadon Lane.
8. On the Dart at Austin’s Bridge by the sewage works. Bats fly under the bridge heading downstream.
We are working with local wildlife organisations and authorities to collect this information and on how we can protect the site for the future. Please help us understand what is happening to our precious and very rare bats.
