Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Expands Bat Conservation Efforts Across Nature Reserves

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust have announced an ambitious expansion of its bat conservation work following an outpouring of public support for its initial appeal looking to protect the rare Bechstein’s bat at Green Lane Wood. The support from the community has been incredible and the Trust is so thankful for the donations as it has unlocked funding for critical work. Our ‘Habitat for Bats’ appeal will continue to raise funds to protect them and deliver further actions to protect these special creatures. Due to the level of support and enthusiasm still coming in, we have raised the ambition and scale of conservation work we are undertaking for bats across our reserves.

Bats play a crucial role in the ecosystem, but their populations are facing increasing pressure from habitat loss, climate change, and disease. The Trust is committed to safeguarding these fascinating creatures by creating and restoring the diverse habitats they need to thrive. This includes carefully managing woodlands the trust owns to ensure a variety of tree species, ages, and sizes, which provides essential roosting sites for bats throughout their life cycle.

In addition to enhancing woodland habitats, the Trust is focused on improving water sources by creating and restoring ponds. These ponds provide essential drinking water for bats and support insect populations, a critical food source for many bat species.

The Trust is also implementing a multi-year monitoring program to track bat populations, understand their movements, and identify key areas for conservation action. This will provide valuable data to inform future conservation strategies and ensure the long-term health of bat populations in Wiltshire.

This vital work involves innovative techniques like 'veteranisation,' where the team carefully creates roosting features in smaller trees that will become useful to bats as they grow older. This mimics natural roosting spots and provides safe havens for bats without harming the long-term health of the trees. Some of these features are ready for bats to use immediately, while others will become suitable as the tree grows and heals, creating a lasting legacy for bat populations.

This ambitious project requires significant investment, and the Trust is seeking to raise £60,000 through its Habitat for Bats appeal to kick-start this critical work across all priority sites. The total cost of the work is estimated to be over £100,000.

Matt Callaway, Conservation Lead for Wiltshire Wildlife Trust said:

“We've been truly heartened by the incredible response to our bat conservation appeal for Green Lane Wood. This support has inspired us to expand our efforts and launch the Habitat for Bats appeal, which will enable us to implement a comprehensive conservation strategy across six of our reserves. Bats are facing a myriad of challenges, from habitat loss and climate change to the devastating impacts of disease. By protecting and restoring their habitats, we're not just helping bats; we're safeguarding the health of our entire ecosystem. We believe everyone deserves the chance to experience the wonder of bats in their natural environment, and with the public's continued support, we can ensure these magnificent creatures have a thriving future in Wiltshire.”

To donate to the Habitat for Bats appeal and learn more about Wiltshire Wildlife Trust's bat conservation efforts, please visit www.wiltshirewildlife.org/appeals