Bats

'Bats' doesn't just refer to the government's proposals to sell off our national forests (email your MP here), but to some of the other residents on site.

In July 2007, the previous owner commissioned a protected species survey focusing on the bats within the old farm buildings. Evidence was found of common pipistrelle, brown long-eared and noctule bats in the area, and using the barn as a roost. Therefore, as part of the build, we had to provide a bat loft and bat boxes on site.

The bat loft is in the conversion above the Chapter Room and offices. The 'bat portal', or entrance to the loft, is at present just a missing brick in the east gable, which is a bit of a worry as it could let in rain or small birds. There are five (unless I've missed any) bat boxes, and bats know where they can go, because the boxes have pictures of bats on them.

Anthony has seen bats flitting around the courtyard previously, but on Sunday  found a dead pipistrelle in an out-of-the-way corner of the courtyard. He thought it had been there a while, and had been under the snow, as it was squashed flat. It had probably ventured out all unwary into the December weather, and was killed by the cold.