THE Bats in Churches project is appealing for volunteers in Dorset to help with the final year of the National Bats in Churches Survey - a citizen project to discover more about how and why bats are using churches.
It’s thought at least 60 per cent of pre-16th Century churches in England house bat roosts, but the true figure could be much higher. Bats have been associated with churches for centuries. With complex structures packed full of cosy nooks and crannies, churches make great homes for bats that are vulnerable to habitat loss.
The Bats in Churches survey began in 2019 and this will be its year. Last year the group discovered bats in just over half of the 219 churches surveyed and recorded a total of nine bat species, including some new to the study.
Claire Boothby, training and surveys officer at Bats in Churches, said: “If you have an interest in churches, bats or both I'd encourage you to get involved. The surveys are something that everyone can do, even if you are new to the world of bat surveys.
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“The records will be key in telling us more about bats’ use of churches, including answering questions such as how many churches in England house bat roosts and which factors affect the likelihood of bats using these cherished buildings. The findings will go towards guidance documents to help churches and conserve both the buildings and the bats.”
A spokesperson for the Church of England said: “By signing up to take part and survey your local church, you’ll be helping the Bats in Churches project understand more about how bats are using churches. This information will be vital not only for the future conservation of bats, a protected species, but also for church communities who can struggle with the mess created by bats.
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Bats in Churches also works with more than 100 of the worst-affected churches in England including St Mark’s, Talbot.
No experience is needed to survey a church, you can find the information you need at this website along with training videos and FAQs. To sign up, visit https://batsinchurches.org.uk/volunteer-bat-survey/
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