Hampshire Biodiversity Bat Group / Hampshire Bat Group

General

• The Hampshire Bat Group runs approximately 100 events each year, including walks, talks, surveys and training sessions. The Group has produced a new leaflet and distributed over 4000 copies in Hampshire, and dealt with over 100 queries on bat issues.
  
  
• Many bat surveys are carried out by a number of organisations and volunteers, with much data collected and collated.

Contact: Colleen Maidstone colleen@myotis.fsnet.co.uk

• Hampshire County Council have held a series of talks on protected species, including bats and their legal and procedural requirements, for Hampshire local authorities. Guidance is given on incorporating suitable policies into local plans. The Council ensures that bats are considered in all relevant planning applications, and provides guidance and advice on provision for bats in development and management schemes.

Contact: Stephanie Carr stephanie.carr@hants.gov.uk

Pipistrelle Bat

• Hampshire is leading the UK’s research into the habitat requirements of the two types of pipistrelle bat. The two species have been radio-tracked to investigate their feeding and roosting requirements.
  
  
• The Environment Agency and Hampshire Wildlife Trust have produced habitat guidelines for riverine management to support bats.
  
  
• English Nature and the Bat Conservation Trust have trained additional bat licence trainers. Hampshire now has at least five trainers that are actively training volunteers for bat licences.

Contact: Ian Davidson-Watts IFDW@aol.com

Bechstein’s / Barbastelle Bat

• Further work has been carried out on the colony of barbastelle bats in woodlands at Mottisfont. This has resulted in much of the woodlands being designated as nationally (SSSI) and internationally (cSAC) important sites.
  
  
• Positive habitat management for butterflies and barbastelle bats is being promoted for an extensive area of woodland associated with the ‘Tytherley’ Project in West Hampshire/South Wiltshire.
  
  
• The most recent record of the very rare Bechstein’s bat was obtained in autumn 2003. Further sampling of woodlands will be undertaken to locate this secretive mammal.
  
  
• A seminar for Hampshire land management advisors was held in spring 2003 to raise awareness of the conservation issues related to tree roosting bats.

Contact: Ian Davidson-Watts IFDW@aol.com

Greater Horseshoe Bat

• Hampshire’s only greater horseshoe bat roost, located in the Avon Valley, has been confirmed as a male making site.

Contact: Ian Davidson-Watts IFDW@aol.com

Serotine Bat

• Over 80 records of serotine bats were investigated and surveyed by Hampshire Bat Group members, confirming the location of 6 maternity roosts. 2 additional maternity roosts and 14 new non-maternity roosts have also been found.
  
  
• About 20 new volunteers became involved in bat surveying. Hampshire Bat Group have held several meetings to promote action to conserve serotine and other bats.
  

Contact: Colleen Maidstone colleen@myotis.fsnet.co.uk