One balmy summer’s evening this week we were joined by twenty bat enthusiasts and novices on a bat walk around the Bankside area. It was led by one of our assistant ecologists Huw Bramhall with a little help from Rosie McLaughlin, and was organised, on behalf of Better Bankside, by Valerie Beirne, from Bankside Urban Forest Project.
Huw gave us a quick overview of bat biology and ecology before we set off into the evening to see what was flying around.
We visited an old church on Copperfield Street, Mint Street Park, Red Cross Garden, Crossbones Cemetery, Little Dorritt Park and St George the Martyr Gardens. Unfortunately, the bats had other ideas and there wasn’t much to see. However we did find one common pipistrelle flying around a block of flats between Redcross Way and Ayres Street.
Huw said, “We had a really good turnout from local businesses and a great mix of local residents of all ages. Most of the people who attended were interested and keen to find bats. Hopefully we’ve inspired a few people to follow up on their interest and go out looking for bats again.”
Even with the lack of bat sightings this time around everyone had great fun and, as a result, Valerie is keen to organise another walk for August. There might be more bats about by then and we may have better luck. Watch this space for details! http://www.banksideurbanforest.org.uk
Martin Clayton from Mapeley Estates said, “….I had a most enjoyable evening and the highlight was hearing the common pipistrelle bat. A most amazing experience”.
