Diary
15/02/2004
A large part of the Conserve Bats Conserve Heritage Project is the training of new members and gaining of new members. The bat group already has an active recruitment system, so the aims of the project overlap with activities already being carried out. A few existing members had asked for training in order to find out more about bats and perhaps go for their licence or get involved in other areas of bat conservation work that the group is involved with.
The Introduction to Bats day was organised by Steve and Fiona Parker for the existing members and potential new members of the group.
Out of a number of people invited 16 booked a place on the course however only 12 turned up. The attendees were Gareth Harrison, Sonia Allen, Mike Fisher, Alan Higginson, Jo Bates, Val Butterworth, Clive Butterworth, Catriona Barker, Jennie Lord, Paul Robinson, Tabatha Boniface and Pat Waring. Four of these people were new members and five were not presently members of the group.
The day covered a number of aspects; basic bat ecology and identification, bats of the world, grounded and injured bats, a session to meet the bats including Egyptian Fruit bats (Rousettus Aegyptiacus), Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), Brown long eared (Plecotus Auritus) and dead specimens of Daubentons (Myotis daubentonii). Attendees also got the chance to look at bat related equipment and droppings during this session. After lunch we walked to see some of the work the group has been involved with at the Philips Park Nature Reserve (where the event was being held). First stop was a beech tree that has a large split in the main trunk, which the group will be investigating later in the year with a fibrescope to check for bat usage. We then moved on to one of the forcing tunnels that was identified as a roost late in 2003, for Brown long eared bats. Attendees were shown the roost position, structure of the roost including ivy covering the entrance and droppings and the piles of moth wings that allow us to identify the structure as a roost. We then looked at the Philips Park Hall under a raised window frame to show potential bat roosting positions in buildings and discussed some of the signs we could look for to identify the site as a roost. Continuing on we walked down to Kingfisher Lodge, and old millpond, on which we have used millpond survey technique, which is key to the Conserve Bats Conserve Heritage Project. We also looked at the importance of this lodge to Daubentons bat and briefly outlined the survey techniques.
Returning to the Barn, Stan Irwin gave a presentation on English Nature, their role in bat work and his role for English Nature, what a licence allows a person to do and what they would need to do as a licence holder. Martin Prescott then presented the LHI Conserve Bats Conserve Heritage Project detailing previous years results including 2003 and the forthcoming survey work. Following this Clare Sefton a group member who obtained her licence in 2003 gave a brief presentation on the work that she had done in order to obtain her licence.
Following the end of the session we discussed many matters with the attendees, including an evaluation form. Everyone enjoyed the day with most people rating it as very good. Overall there were very few comments on how to improve the day and we feel that its success is shown in the fact that everyone wishes to undertake further training and get involved in at least one area of bat conservation work.
Since the session four of those who were not members have now joined the group. All attendees expressed an interest in getting involved in Conserve Bats Conserve Heritage Project. Seven people have stated that they would like to train to become licensed bat wardens with a possible eighth person who may be interested subject to time commitments.
19/02/2004
Bat Talk
The Nantwich Natural History Society had around 30 attendees, no other SLBG members present. It was a straightforward slide show, which covered the millpond project, as well as general bat information
08/03/2004
Day survey at Healey Dell Nature Reserve Rochdale and Miles Platting – Rochdale and Ashton Canal
Attendees - Martin, Steve, Sonia, Cath
This was a day of preparation for the forthcoming summer surveys. We met with Sue Southworth, the head Ranger from Rochdale Countryside Services at Healey Dell Nature Reserve. It was a chance to familiarise ourselves with ourselves with the site and look at the 4 millponds on the reserve and consider surveying the Brook which runs through the site. After viewing the Nature reserve we headed off to meet a Community Group leader in Miles Platting to arrange to survey the two canals that run through the area. After a long walk and good observation of the site we agreed to take this further and survey the site during the August surveys, however this was the last time we were able to contact the group leader despite many attempts, so this site was abandoned.
04/04/2004
Attendees – Sonia Allen, Catriona Barker, Jo Bates, Tabatha Boniface, Cath Dewhurst, Mike Fisher, Jennie Lord, Martin Prescott, Paul Robinson, Pat Waring
Due to the large number of potential bat conservation licence trainees we decided to run this workshop for the first time. We are pleased to report that it was extremely well received. It is a very difficult subject to present as there is a large amount of law pertaining to bat protection and it is an essential starting point for all trainees, as it underpins all subsequent training. We will be holding another session next year.
09/04/2004
A detailed tree inspection was carried out looking for bat roosts over the weekend of the 9/10th April. We looked at approximately 100 trees determining those with suitable roosting features such as cracks, splits and holes, such as woodpecker holes. This involved ladder use, and included safety instruction of the ‘Ladder Code’ basis and then use of the newly acquired fibrescope, which allows the internal structure of trees, and indeed buildings, to be examined and illuminated from inside the hole. Unfortunately no new roosts were located during this study however it was very useful as a training session, and a good chance to have a good discussion about bats in general with trainees.
Attendees – Steve and Fiona Parker, Martin Prescott, Clive Butterworth, Mike Fisher, Stephen Day
18/04/2004
Attendees – Sonia Allen, Lyndsey Atherton, Clive and Val Butterworth, Harriet Dennison, Cath Dewhurst, Gareth Harrison, John Harrison-Bryant,
Review Session attendees – Steve Parker, Fiona Parker, Clare Sefton, and Jennie Lord
Having run this workshop twice before in recent years we knew that it would be well attended. A licence is not required for people to look after injured bats however the group has a strict injured bat care policy, mainly as we are dealing with statutorily protected species’. The session took a full day and is enjoyed by all. As a result of the training session, which includes learning how our policy works, assessing injured bats, handling the live bats and discussing equipment and feeding and general care, four new bat carers were taken on immediately.
02/05/2004
Steve and Fiona Parker and Martin Prescott attended a country show at Burrs Country Park in Bury. Burrs is the site of an old mill complex with two millponds remaining as well as a pool that is used for recreational canoeing. We attend shows of this nature to talk to the public and hopefully get new people involved. The site is ideal as far as the millpond project goes, as evidence of the ponds is plain for all to see as Burrs was once a working mill. We estimate that we spoke to 300 people on this event about the project.
28/05/2004
Although an annual event for the last 4 years the Burrs bat walk is made all the more significant this year as Burrs was once a working mill, and although some very obvious signs, such as the chimney and some of the mill foundations, two millponds still remain. There is a third, which is used by the on-site activity centre for canoeing, although we are uncertain as to whether this was originally a millpond. 25 people attended the walk and as well as observing the mandatory pipistrelle bats feeding around the site, we discussed at length the Conserve Bats, Conserve Heritage project. Another great deal of interest from the public in this project. The bat walk itself was advertised locally in the countryside guide and local press as well as our website.
30/05/2004
Pennington Flash open Day
Steve and Fiona Parker attended the annual open day at Pennington Flash. The Flashes were formed when previous mine workings collapsed and the resultant hole filled with water. Pennington is one such place, now a local park and managed for wildlife. The site, although not covered in millponds, is highly attributed to previous industrial workings, i.e. the mining activity which occurred there, leading to the massive Flashes. At the site, we know from previous surveys that the common and soprano pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus and Pipistrellus pygmaeus), Daubenton’s bat (Myotis daubentonii), noctule bat (Nyctalus noctula) and Natterer’s bat (Myotis nattereri) all use the site as prime foraging habitat. As such we feel it is important to highlight this to the local community and attend the show on an annual basis. As it is possible to survey the flashes using the millpond technique, we also considered this to be a good opportunity to tell the community about the project and encourage them to come along, as bat walks at the site are always well attended. At the show we raised some funds with the sales stall, and talked to an estimated 200 people about the Conserve Bats, Conserve Heritage project.
08/06/2004
Guide Talk
Steve Parker carried out a talk to a Guide company in Bradshaw Bolton. There were approximately 15 guides and three leaders who all enjoyed our standard talk as well as meeting two live pipistrelle bats. The talk has now slightly changed as we always include a section on what the Bat Group is doing. Since the start of February this has included the LHI funded initiative – the Conserve Bats, Conserve Heritage project.
11/06/2004
Healey Dell Bat Walk
Martin helped with the walk, Val Cooper from Cheshire Bat Group and the Mersey Basin did the talk. Sonia may have been there.
12/06/2004
The site at Darcy Lever is an old disused railways cutting that is currently under threat from development. Members of the group have shown that the cutting is an important feeding site and commuting route for bats, particularly those that live in a number of houses on the adjacent housing estate. The purpose of this survey was two fold. Firstly to identify how the cutting is being used by this protected species to determine categorically whether the cutting was worthy of protection and secondly to use the survey as a training tool to new volunteers in survey techniques and methods. The following people attended;
Isobel Carter, Alex, Fiona and Steve Parker, Mike Fisher, Pat Waring, Tabatha Boniface, Jo Bates, Cath Dewhurst, Clare and Gareth Hughes, Pat Hilton, Catriona Barker, Stephen Day, Gareth Harrison, Daniel Mapson, Mr Mapson, along with over 15 members of the Darcy Lever residents association. The survey determined that the cutting is a highly important site both for commuting Pipistrelle bats and as a feeding site for them.
16/06/2004
Attendees - Pat Waring, Tabatha Boniface, Mike Fisher, Pat Hilton, Jennie Lord, Isobel Carter, John Harrison-Bryant, Gareth Harrison, Catriona Barker, Daniel Mapson, Alan Higginson.
Another training exercise was carried out at the bat barns at Manchester airport. The barns were built to house bats as mitigation for the second runway at the airport. Cheshire bat group has monitored the barns since they were built and three species of bat have been known to inhabit them. South Lancashire bat group has helped with these surveys over recent years. Not only are they interesting to do but close observations of different species of bats are possible and they are therefore useful as training opportunities. 31 Brown long-eared bats emerged, 5 Brandt’s and 14 pipistrelles. Interestingly 22 noctule passes were recorded and it was thought that they were commuting from woodlands nearby where bat boxes had been erected as part of the mitigation plan for the second runway.
25/06/2004
Pat Hilton, Pat Waring, John Gibson, Margaret Gibson, Catriona Barker, Cath Dewhurst, Jennie Lord, Steve and Fiona Parker, Daniel Mapson, Gareth Harrison, John Harrison-Bryant, all attended this survey in the Yarrow Valley. There are three ponds and a well-vegetated stream. In previous years Noctule bats, both species of pipistrelle (Common and Soprano) and Daubentons bats have been recorded feeding over the main pond, with Pipistrelles over the smaller ponds. Whiskered/Brandts bats are regularly found feeding along the stream. Because of the wide variety of species this site is ideal for training new volunteers in the use of bat detectors and the differentiating between the species using the sounds emitted from the detector. Only the common pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Daubenton’s and whiskered bats where recorded on this visit. It was a very cold night, and the bats took their time to arrive although this did mean we had plenty of time for discussion. It was decided that the ponds would be surveyed in August under the LHI millpond project proper.
27/06/2004
Another open day at a show in Burnley. Steve, Fiona, Martin, Clare and Gareth all attended a t some point during the day, again with the aim of talking to members of the local community about the millpond project. We also have no members in this area, so recruitment of anyone interested to take part was a key aim of the day and we succeeded in recruiting 3 new volunteers, who appeared keen to get involved.
29/06/2004
Steve attended a talk at the Elton Youth club in Bury. At least 50 children between the ages of 12 and 16 attended along with 5 adults. As well as finding out about bats in general an meeting two live pipistrelles, the proximity of the youth centre to the Kirklees Valley – the main survey site for the Conserve Bats, Conserve Heritage project, provided an ideal opportunity to tell the local community what is going on so nearby to protect the valley and mill lodges.
03/07/2004
The Wigan Flash survey was good as usual, this time we watched Noctules all night and there were very good numbers all over the Flashes again. Interestingly this time when we turned off the detectors it was possible to hear the faint flap of wings, even when the bat was a good distance away. The night served as a very good training exercise.
Attendees - Tabatha Boniface, Pat Waring, Sonia Allen, Gareth Harrison, Daniel Mapson, Steve and Fiona Parker
09/07/2004
Hollins Grundy Bat Box Making
Paul Robinson and a couple of the Bury Countryside Rangers were there, no other bat group members and at least 50 children. Martin Prescott.
11/07/2004
This country show was attended by a good number of bat group members. We raised just under £180 for the group and talked to a lot of people about the work we do, in particularly the millpond project. Moses Gate Country Park, and the on site SSSI, Nob End, owes its existence to the areas industrial past. A number of mills were located along the valley of the River Croal, and some of the millponds remain within the Moses Gate Park. We obtained three new memberships from the show and the members who attended got to talk to the public and enthuse about bats to them. This is an essential part of roost visitor licence training. Over the course of the day we probably discussed the millpond project with anyone who would listen – about 500 people. This was probably our busiest show of the year so far.
Attendees – Steve and Fiona Parker, Martin Prescott, Mike Fisher, Sonia Allen, Clive and Val Butterworth.
Jennie Lord attended a show at Salford town hall and was an instant hit with the children. She took a number of leaflets and although no new members joined at the show she talked to many people about the millpond project. Jennie has also decided to use the data collected during the mill-pond project for her University dissertation which will incorporate an analysis of the data collected, statistically, then comparing this with a Pond Conservation Trust indexing system of pond quality to determine if there is a correlation in the numbers of bats using each pond as a feeding site and the pond quality. The Bat Conservation Trusts National Bat Monitoring Programme for Daubentons bats has been closely linked with the Environment Agency’s Water Quality Assessment. Jennie dissertation will attempt to determine if the link between water quality and bat foraging activity holds true for millponds.
23/07/2004
Steve & Fiona Parker travelled down to Sussex to observe mist netting with Frank Greenaway on a PTES funded project. Although not strictly speaking part of the Millpond project, it was considered such a useful training exercise that we decided to include it here. We learnt such a lot on this that can be passed on to the group’s trainees. Barbastelles, Bechstein’s, Whiskered, Daubentons, Natterers and Pipistrelle bats were all caught in mist nets and measurements taken for the survey. Unmarked bats were then ringed before being released. After the official end of the survey, we returned to a millpond on site to observe any activity. There were Natterers bats and Daubentons bats feeding over it. Unfortunately it was too late to carry out a proper survey on the pond as it was well after sunset by this time.
01/08/2004
Philips Park Open Day
Attended with stall and information stand.
Sold some batty goods, talked to 100 + people, Steve, Fiona, Jennie, Martin and Mike helped on the stall.
Evening Bat Walk, 22 attendants. 9 Bat group members. 6 members carried out millpond surveys at Dams head Lodge and Kingfisher Lodge. 2 bat group people led the bat walk, which went past the surveyors. Martin who was leading the walk explained what the surveyors were doing and the importance of the millponds for bats.
The other bat group member was attending the walk. It was the first time she had been out with the group, and joined, as she was interested in the millponds project. Publicity was also obtained from the BBC GMR radio bus. The event was advertised on the radio during the day
Attendants, Martin Prescott, Paul Robinson, Sheree Wilson, Steve Parker, Fiona Parker, Jennie Lord, John Gibson, Margaret Gibson, Cath Dewhurst. Gabi also attended and although not yet a member, she has now attended a few events and may well join.
06/08/2004
Bat Walk Island Lodge Tottington.
After publicity in the Manchester Evening News, Bury Times and BBC GMR radio, as well as word-of-mouth and flyers posted locally, 37 people attended the walk. The radio request asked for people interested in surveying to come along to the walk. There were a number of Bat Group members, Martin Prescott, Steve Parker, Fiona Parker, pat Waring, Tabatha Boniface, Mike Fisher, Sheree Wilson, John Harrison-Bryant, Gareth Harrison, Charlotte Harrison, Sonia Allen, Val Butterworth, Clive Butterworth.
It was decided that some group members would help Martin lead the bat walk, whilst the others surveyed 3 of the millponds. The walk would again pass the surveyors to find out how they were going on. The walk was considered a major success, although we had hoped to use it to obtain new local members for the group, who would take part in the millpond survey as well as attend the bat walk. The bats put on a bit of a performance tonight with 5 species recorded, the most we’d ever covered at this site – P45, P55, Daubentons bat, whiskered bat and Noctule bat – the first noctule record for this pond.
07/08/2004
Two ponds in the Olives complex were surveyed tonight. Steve and Martin took 2 relatively new members to train them in the survey technique.
07/08/2004
Attendants (first night only) - Steve, Martin, Gabi, Clive.
This first night of the project. Other members of the group were out but surveying buildings for another project instead. The group surveyed virtually solidly for 5 weeks, with Steve and Fiona Parker surveying 42 ponds themselves! The last pond to be surveyed was Island Lodge on 08/10/2004. Overall despite the poor weather this summer we were able to survey most nights with large chances being taken in missing the showers. Rain and wind are not good conditions to survey for bats so nights with these conditions were avoided completely. In total 78 ponds were surveyed in the following locations
Kirklees Valley, Bury 28 Ponds
Parkers and Whitehead Lodges, Ainsworth Bolton 3 Ponds
Healey Dell, Rochdale 5 ponds
Wigan Flashes, Wigan 7 Ponds
East Lancashire Paper Mill Radcliffe, Manchester 4 Ponds
Pennington Flash, Leigh 2 ponds
Cliviger, Todmorden 1 pond
Starmount Lodges, Bradley Fold, Bury 4 ponds
Burrs County Park, Bury 4 ponds
Moses Gate Country Park, Farnworth Bolton 2 ponds
Jumbles Reservoir, Bolton 1 pond
Pilsworth Fisheries, Bury 8 ponds
Whitley Reservoir, Wigan 1 pond
Worsley Delph, Worsley Manchester 3 ponds
Hollins Vale, Bury 1 pond
Yarrow Valley, Chorley 2 ponds
Philips Park, Whitefield Manchester 2 ponds
The following people took part in the surveying
Steve Parker
Fiona Parker
Mike Fisher
Martin Prescott
Jennie Lord
Sonia Allen
Pat Hilton
Sheree Wilson
Mary Howard
Clare Hughes
Gareth Hughes
Gabi Simms
Tabatha Boniface
Pat Waring
John Gibson
Margaret Gibson
Paul Robinson
Clive Butterworth
Val Butterworth
Gareth Harrison
John Harrison-Bryant
Charlotte Harrison
Stephen Day
Jonathon Day
Rebecca Day
Cath Dewhurst
Dave Orchard
27 in total
Alan Higginson
Peter Hilton
Sue Southworth
Leroy Holcroft
David Hogg
Christine Davies
Another 6
33 People have been involved in the surveying in total
28/08/2004
Eurobat night Jumbles Reservoir Bolton.
Our Annual foray to Jumbles reservoir in Bolton, this year attracted more attention than in previous years. Over the last four years we have built quite a big following for this walk. The lowest number of people attending was 80. This year over 140 people attended probably due to increased awareness following an article in the Bolton Evening News, which detailed the millpond project in all its glory. Our thanks to the reporter – Leroy Holcroft. This year the talk was quite difficult due to the large number of people attending and I can tell you I was hoarse the next day. The raffle was again a popular draw and raised some funds for the other work that the group does, but during the talk I did let the ‘audience’ know a lot about the millpond project, and canvassed for volunteers, mainly as the Kirklees valley had been completely surveyed by this time. Again another set of people went away happy with seeing the Noctules, Daubenton’s and Pipistrelle bats, and knowing about the project. Apparently this walk was one of the biggest for this year’s European Bat Night. Also a knock on effect occurred here as I had suggested that some of the Rangers from Bury’s Countryside Service come along in order to watch how I arrange bat walks, they did and have now arranged 4 of their own for September.
Helpers from the bat group were – Steve and Fiona Parker, Martin Prescott, Mike Fisher, Clive and Val Butterworth, Clare and Gareth Hughes, Catriona Barker, Pat Hilton, Sonia Allen, Chris McMullen, Mary Howard, Su Gilroy, Stuart Fearn, Jennie Lord and Stephen Day. Wow !!
Steve Parker
12/09/2004
Go Wild! Hollins Community Centre
In a tiny community centre in the Hollins area of Bury we attended the Go Wild show. Over the course of a day we probably only saw 100 people but raised around £130 for bat conservation. This show never fails to amaze me. Helpers this time, Steve and Fiona Parker, Mary Howard, Paul Robinson and Martin Prescott. A lot more people still know about the millpond project though, and a thoroughly enjoyable day.
17/09/2004 – 19/09/2004
National Bat Conservation Trust Annual Conference
Although not strictly speaking anything to do with the project, I wanted to include the conference as part of our diary as I strongly believe that some members of the group attended due to the work we are doing and the sense of fulfilment it is bringing. Usually only 3 or 4 members attend. This years Steve and Fiona, Clare and Gareth, Sonia, Catriona and Cath all attended, and for the latter three it was a useful training exercise. Personally having attended 4 conferences previous to this, I felt that this was by far the best.
Steve Parker
23/09/2004
The Lowry Art Project
We were contacted in July about doing some surveying with an Artist who was recording the wildlife of Salford Quays with the ultimate aim of producing an exhibition in the summer/autumn 2005. As an abstract artist she was attempting to obtain either photographs, cctv or infra-red images, however due to the equipment required to obtain this type of outcome not being available I suggested recording the bats feeding over the quays onto minidisk for an aural effect. Unfortunately the bats did not show up and over the course of the evening we only recorded one solitary pipistrelle bat that was commuting along a roan, with absolutely nothing over the Quays. This was disappointing, as we had intended to use the data collected in the millponds project as a lot of work has been done to ‘clean-up’ the Quays, particularly with regard to water quality. Anyway we did get the recordings at another site, but the millpond method was not used here.
Steve and Fiona Parker
25/09/2004
Bury Environment Fair
Later in the year than normal, this show was poorly advertised and a lot fewer people passed through the doors. Again a disappointment as we had intended to try recruiting new volunteers to help with the project that was on their doorstep – i.e. the Kirklees Valley- and soon to be on TV. We had also intended to tell a number of people about the project in more detail as we had arranged 2 talks during the day, which had been advertised as part of the event. Martin Prescott did the first talk and only 3 people attended (one of which was Mike Fisher who observed so he can get ideas for doing the odd talk himself)! I, Steve, also held a talk and had 3 people attend – all these were members of the public. The talks themselves went well, but it was a real shame in the turnout. Still we spoke to a good number of people during the day, but probably only about 100.
Attendees – Steve and Fiona Parker, Martin Prescott, Mike Fisher, Paul Robinson
02/10/2004
Bat Boxes at Philips Park Nature Reserve Whitefield Manchester
Philips Park is the site of two millponds – Dams Head and Kingfisher lodge. The mills are long gone, but the group has done a lot of survey work here over the last year, and found both lodges to be very important to foraging and commuting bats. As the site is so important and they had a number of bat boxes to erect following sessions run by Paul Robinson, a group member and Local Nature Reserve Office for Bury Council, with groups of Cubs, Beavers and Brownies, we decided to include it here. A most enjoyable day was had by all who attended, and that would be Steve and Fiona Parker, who forgot their lunch, Martin Prescott, Catriona Barker, Pat Waring, Tabatha Boniface who leant us a GPS to mark the box positions accurately, Sonia Allen and Mike Fisher, oh, and Paul Robinson again. We made another 15 boxes including an experimental design, meticulously built by Paul, and erected 31 in total around the park. We intend to add more soon.
05/10/2004
Brownie Talk Edgeworth
Sue Wilson, another group member, runs a Brownie group, and had asked me to do a talk some time ago. I have visited the group before but not to talk about the millpond project, so this was incorporated in the main body of the talk, which was about bats in general. Approximately 35 brownies were there as well as 5 adult leaders/helpers, and as usual we finished late – making the parents wait!
Steve Parker
10/10/2004
Towneley Park Show Burnley
Martin, Steve and Fee attended this one and after a dodgy start – with the organisers thinking they had not invited us and having nowhere for the stall to go, we managed to beg a gazebo and steal a place between the hedgehog hospital and the Lancashire Wildlife Trust stalls. We had a fantastic day with one new member who was very interested in the millpond project, and raised a further £170 for the group. Of course, as is the normal run of things, Fiona and I disappeared to buy some lunch, as it was fairly quiet. When we got back to the stall Martin was nearly cursing us, as the floodgates opened as we left the stall. It was busy for the rest of the afternoon, and I would estimate about 1000 people plus, visited us. Of course we told anyone who would listen about the fact we were due to be on TV soon due to our millpond project. Personally I think the best part of the day was discovering a new roost in the building used as a café. It was almost certainly a male breeding territory for pipistrelle bats – I would think it was the best part of the day though, mainly because I found it – initiate smug mode!
12/10/2004
Regional Bat Groups Forum Meeting – English Nature Wigan
Again very little to do with the millpond project at first however a show of force by the group – Steve, Fiona, Cat, Sonia, Mike, Martin, Pat Hilton, Jennie Clare and Gareth all attended. Most of the meeting was about general batty stuff as usual, however the groups were asked to report back on their activities, of which one of ours was of course this millpond project. Other groups had been aware of it and in fact a member of the North Lancs Bat Group had helped in the Kirklees Valley survey in the early years. We were able to report back on the project and it’s progress and suggested that the other groups may like to do something similar should they feel so inclined and even join us on the surveys if they wished. Nick Tomlinson, for the Bat Conservation trust (their Bat Group Development Officer) was particularly interested and after the meeting suggested that we present the findings at the annual conference. At this moment in time nothing has been decided, but watch this space…
… I have already nominated Martin!!!
Steve Parker
17/10/2004
A Walk Through Time
Way back in May, following the filming for the BBC’s British Isles: A Natural History programme Martin was asked to help put together the guided walk through time, which he stared with help from Bury Local History Society. BBC GMR publicised the walk for approximately 2 weeks prior to the event, which was held on Sunday 17th October. The walk is also on the BBC’s website – see link below
http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/features/walk/index.shtml
Steve, Fiona and Martin all attended the walk during the day wand were not alone. The BBC GMR bus was at the event, behind the Robin Hood pub, Tottington Bury and by 2.00 pm, Eve Hart, the local presenter for the Bus estimates at least 150 people had turned up for the event. Unfortunately there was very little mention of bats using the wildlife havens of the millponds in the literature that was supplied. Either way many people went along during the day and enjoyed the walk through the valley, along the viaduct and were able to see the reminders of our industrial heritage, in the shape of the millponds left behind.
By far, one of the most exciting aspects of the project has been the amount of interest it has generated with other organisations, and this is most apparent with the BBC. On April 21st Martin and I were invited to a meeting at Manchester Museum with regard to a major new BBC series documenting the landscape of the British Isles through time, and how certain events had affected the landscape. The aim of the meeting was to allow organisations locally to benefit from the series and run events off the back off the programs, and incorporate these events into the BBC’s learning and education strategies.
We were asked to consider what type of events we could do in the late autumn when the programme was due to be broadcast. We felt that it was unlikely we could run any more events as we were booked up doing the millpond project, and the late autumn is not the best time of year to run bat walks etc.
Anyway one of the speakers was the producer of the local programme ’opt-out’ as it was being called. He explained the national programme was to be 50 minutes long with a 10-minute section at the end for each BBC region to follow up the main programme with more local examples of what had been covered in the main programme. This we were interested in as one of the programmes was on the Industrial Revolution and it’s impact on the landscape.
To cut a long story short Martin ‘thrust’ a flyer of our project into the producers hand, as he left the meeting, and this was followed the next morning by a phone call to Martin explaining that the BBC were interested in our project for the regional section.
Filming licences followed from English Nature and two filming sessions were held over two days and night in May (14th and 25th). The filming was carried out at Island Lodge in the Kirklees Valley and covered the millpond and viaduct spanning it as well as filming the Pipistrelles and Daubenton’s bats feeding over the water. We even had the release of captive bats filmed – I think 3 were released at the site in total. These had been rehabilitated from their injuries and released at this site, as we didn’t know where they were originally from. At one point the members of the group ended up helping with the lighting! Both nights were fascinating.
Following on form this the BBC felt that the site was good enough to include on their ‘Walks Through Time’ section on their website. This is all linked to ‘British Isles: A Natural History’ series presented by Alan Titchmarsh. See Event 17/10/2004.
We received confirmation that the ‘Bats Of Bury’ was to be included in the regional section in late July (27th) and final confirmation at the Walk Through Time event on 17/10/2004. These regional segments are also put together into The British Isles: A User’s Guide – presented by Chris Packham on BBC4 (Sky/Cable/Digital) later, on the same evening as the main programme.
The programme we are covered in is scheduled for Wednesday 3rd November at 9.00 pm, followed by the BB4 programme at 10.50 pm.
Hopefully the group will get a mention – it was certainly filmed, but who’s to know if we are to get our 15 minutes (seconds more like!) or end up on the cutting room floor. Either way we do know that the Millponds and Bats will be included, which is what this project is all about. Right now our fingers are crossed (and everything else!!). Those who attended the filming were Martin Prescott, Steve Parker (Licensed), Fiona Parker, Gareth Hughes and Clare Hughes.
Many Thanks to Debra Sloan, BBC, who invited us to the initial meeting.
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