New planning leaflet

In line with new laws that have come in to force, we have updated our Planning advice leaflet, which can be downloaded from our website free here: www.scillybatgroup.org.uk/about_us.html

If you're considering alterations to an existing building, please read the leaflet as you will be required to explain in the Planning process how you intend to deal with any bat presence.

If you need any further advice from us or would like  abut survey carried out, please get in contact.

St Martin's bats in April

I've just come back from a bat walk around Middle Town and Lower Town on St Martin's on a cool but dry evening. This was the first proper bat walk of the year for me and it yielded some positive results.

I would estimate there were4 or 5 individual Pipistrelles, but had several passes of each and they seemed to be very busy after insects.

Whilst we're still not sure where they're roosting, it's always good to find them active after another winter - the last being a cold one of course. On warmer evenings we'll find out what sort of levels the population is at for 2011.

Summary of bats in 2010

Our annual report "Status of bats in the Isles of Scilly 2010" is now available to view and download on our website here.

The report highlights some of the differing foraging patterns of bats, the generally healthy population levels, all backed up by various surveys across the Islands. The group has also been active in giving talks, conducting bat walks and forming a new Youth Bat Group.

Looking forward to 2011 some research may be carried out, using various means, which could give some really useful insights in to how bats feed, breed and move around Scilly.