Batscapes

Between November 2003 and December 2007, the Batscapes project ran across the Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire Council areas. Its aim was to involve all the local community in the protection of horseshoe bats and local landscape features that support them. The project was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Natural England, the Duchy of Cornwall, the two district councils. Strong community involvement was central with numerous walks, talks, projects and events.

The project leaves a legacy of over 50 volunteer parish bat wardens continuing with the Batscapes survey and monitoring aspects, overseen by project partner Avon Bat Group. Bat hotspots were sought out with almost 50 new bat roosts located and surrounding habitats improved by practical habitat management days. Over 70 farm visits were undertaken by project field officers from the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG), and Avon Wildlife Trust leading to over 30 landholdings entering stewardship agreements to benefit local bats.
For more details visit the Batscapes website.

The Field Boundaries Project

Funded by the Heritage Lottery fund and working in partnership with South Gloucestershire Council, all rural dry stone walls and hedges were surveyed by volunteers. Details were recorded on a map-based information system and made available to planners, developers and residents. Spin off projects include a CD-ROM for primary school children which was distributed to local schools to explain the importance of field boundaries both for wildlife and as part of our cultural heritage.

Youth Web – linking young people with biodiversity

The Youth Web Project was set up under the WILDthings partnership to link local young people to their local biodiversity. This 18 months project launched in January 2003 was coordinated by the project officer Nancy Ashworth and hosted by Bath & North East Somerset Council Planning Services. The project aimed to:

• raise awareness among young people of local wildlife issues
• explore and test innovative ways to engage disaffected youth including young offenders in practical wildlife activities
• develop a sustainable ‘web’ of accredited activities to engage young people in improving and supporting wildlife.

The project engaged over 200 young people from nine youth clubs and a small number of youth offenders. A wide range of approaches was tried and tested including, arts and media, practical wildlife projects, surveying and monitoring and environmental games.

Each activity was closely monitored and the successful activities have been handed over as a package to be used in youth clubs by Bath & North East Somerset’s Youth and Community Service. To support this, youth workers were trained to implement the package. It is hoped this will help to maintain the link between young people and biodiversity in the longer-term.

A full report is available from Bath & North East Somerset Council Planning Services: 01225 477618.