Bishop’s Park Bats
A total of six species of bats have been recorded at Bishop’s Park including common and soprano pipistrelle, brown long-eared bat, Natterer’s bat, noctule and the very rare and special greater horseshoe bat. We are thrilled that these very special creatures make Bishop’s Park their home and are thriving here.
The greater horseshoe bats recorded at Bishop’s Park are rare throughout Wales and the UK and although Pembrokeshire is a UK stronghold, there are very few roosts in Carmarthenshire.
A total of seven greater horseshoe bats have been recorded roosting in the former derelict Bishop’s outbuildings – the dairy, pantry and brewhouse – since 2016. A large loft void and suitable access (see drawing below) have been maintained within the renovation work so that the main building can continue to be used in the future and hopefully increase the numbers of greater horseshoe bats making the site their home over time.
In addition, as we are now managing the meadow and parkland to support the bats, we hope this will increase the availability of insect prey (large beetles and moths) for the bats to feed on.
As part of the development of the Park, roost provision has also been made for Natterer’s bat, which was recorded breeding here in 2020, and other bats species, both in the building lofts and roofs and in bat boxes around the park.
In general, greater horseshoe, noctule and pipistrelle bats will mainly forage open habitats such as the Great Meadow and Bishop’s Pond, while Natterer’s bat and brown long-eared bat will use more wooded areas.
It is likely that Daubenton’s bat also use the Bishop’s Pond for foraging and other bat species are also likely to be present locally and pass through and forage within the Park.
Have you spotted any bats at the Park? Let us know if you have!
Bishop’s Park Bats
A total of six species of bats have been recorded at Bishop’s Park including common and soprano pipistrelle, brown long-eared bat, Natterer’s bat, noctule and the very rare and special greater horseshoe bat. We are thrilled that these very special creatures make Bishop’s Park their home and are thriving here.
A total of seven greater horseshoe bats have been recorded roosting in the former derelict Bishop’s outbuildings – the dairy, pantry and brewhouse – since 2016. A large loft void and suitable access (see drawing below) have been maintained within the renovation work so that the main building can continue to be used in the future and hopefully increase the numbers of greater horseshoe bats making the site their home over time.
As part of the development of the Park, roost provision has also been made for Natterer’s bat, which was recorded breeding here in 2020, and other bats species, both in the building lofts and roofs and in bat boxes around the park.
In general, greater horseshoe, noctule and pipistrelle bats will mainly forage open habitats such as the Great Meadow and Bishop’s Pond, while Natterer’s bat and brown long-eared bat will use more wooded areas.
It is likely that Daubenton’s bat also use the Bishop’s Pond for foraging and other bat species are also likely to be present locally and pass through and forage within the Park.
Have you spotted any bats at the Park? Let us know if you have!