Biodiversity
Local Habitat and Species Action Plans
The Species Action Plans|
Bats
Our aims
- Investigate what species of bats are present in the borough and support bat colony creation where appropriate
- To improve the publics perception of bats
Introduction
- Bats were chosen as an action plan as it was felt that they are a misunderstood mammal. The action plans sets out to change people's negative perception of them and find out more about bat populations in the borough
- They are also a declining species. Recent evidence from the London Bat Group has shown that bats have continued to decline in Greater London during the period 1985-1999
Current status
- Bats and their roosting sites are protected under current legislation primarily in The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. There is little data little on current Bat populations although common soprano pipistrelles, noctule, daubenton's bat have been known to occur in the borough
Factors affecting the species
- The loss roost sites in buildings and trees
- The loss of habitats such as insect rich woodlands, wetlands and grasslands
Current action
- The National Bat Monitoring Programme operated by the Bat Conservation Trust provides ongoing data on recent population levels
- Members of the Essex Bat Group and the London Bat Group assist in the improvement of roost sites in partnership with English Nature
- Bat Walks and talks are hosted at Eastbrookend Country Park organised by the boroughs Ranger Service
- In the Beam Valley a World War 2 Pill Box has been converted into a bat cave and additional bat boxes have been erected at other sites
The Species Action Plans|
Contact
Ranger Services
The Millennium Centre
The Chase
Dagenham Road
Rush Green
Romford
RM7 0SS
Tel: 020 8595 4155
Fax: 020 8984 9488
General parks enquiries:
Email: parksandcountryside@lbbd.gov.uk|
|
