UK Bat weekend takes flight

Paul Eccleston, The Telegraph 29 Aug 08;

Thousands of people will be taking part in events aimed at celebrating one of our most misunderstood mammals - the bat.

The UK has 17 different species of bat, most which are in decline, and all which are now protected by law.

Bats make up almost a third of mammal species in the UK and are seen as key indicators of a healthy environment.

A celebratory weekend - August 30/31 - has been organised by the Bat Conservation Trust, with support from Defra, as part of European Bat Weekend.

Dozens of bat walks and talks have been arranged by local bat groups, wildlife trusts, countryside rangers and other organisations across the country to bring people a little closer to bats and to mark the contribution bats make to biodiversity in the UK.

Amy Coyte, chief executive of the Bat Conservation Trust, said: "Bats are fascinating animals which are sadly under threat in the UK, largely due to the destruction of habitats and loss of roosts.

"European Bat Weekend is an ideal way for people to learn more about the problems facing bats, and to find out how they can help.

"Bat walks offer people a truly magical way of seeing and hearing bats in their natural environment. The Bat Conservation Trust is happy to be able to share this experience with so many people."

Environment Minister Jonathan Shaw said: "The importance of bats as a group species and as an indicator of the health of the rest of our wildlife is not always recognised, which is why the Bat Conservation Trust's work to raise the profile of these unique animals is so valuable."

Those taking part in the bat walks will be using devices called 'bat detectors' which enable people to hear bats as they fly by.

Bats use a sonar sense called echolocation to find their way around at night. With bat detectors, we can tune into the sounds they make and determine what species of bat are present.

European Bat Weekend was born out of a European-wide celebration of bats held every August.

The Bat Conservation Trust has developed an interactive events guide for European Bat Weekend which can be found at www.bats.org.uk