River Colne Countryside Project
Bat Hibernacula
The River Colne Countryside Project has recently been converting second world war pill boxes into places for bats to roost and hibernate over winter. The idea came from discussions with the Forestry Commission that had outstanding success converting old air raid shelters into hibernacula.
Pill boxes are ideally suited to the task as they have thick walls and are often situated close to rivers. The thick walls help maintain a constant temperature and humidity while the location close to rivers are a hot spot for bats as they hunt on insects living by the river.
As some pill boxes are of archaeological value, the Project consulted with County archaeologists, who gave a cautious green light for work to go ahead on the understanding that the work will not damage the structure and is reversible.
The conversion involves blocking up the shooting holes, restricting human access and the installation of bat bricks. Bat bricks are house size bricks that have cavities in them to allow the bats to crawl up hibernate or roost.
Further experimental work is planned on the pill boxes by altering the humidity in them by introducing pools of water. The success of the scheme will be monitored by a licensed bat surveyor later in the year. It is hoped for a positive outcome as similar schemes around the country have proved successful.
Bats have been recognised as a species that needs our help and is subject to an Action Plan across the county. It is hoped that the work being done in the Colne Valley will help encourage bat populations here. If you want to know more about this project, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Further information
For further information contact:
Simon Amstutz, Project Officer, River Colne Countryside Project,
Planning and Protection, PO Box 889, Town Hall, Colchester,
CO1 1FL
Tel. 07702 918980
Fax 01206 282475
Email via this form
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