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Bat Conservation Trust need nature lovers' help

Aug 9 2009 by Paul Loraine, Sunday Sun

NATURE lovers are being asked to keep an eye on the sky in an effort to conserve the region’s bat population.

The Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) are calling upon North folk to report sightings of the winged creatures, helping them to keep tabs on their ever-decreasing numbers.

All the reported sightings will be logged on the ‘Big Bat Map’ on the trust’s website.

The Count Bat Project will make the trust aware of bat ‘hotspots’ where a special effort needs to be made to protect their habitat.

Anyone who spies a bat should log on to the BCT website – www.bats.org.uk/bigbatmap – which allows visitors to record sightings of bats flying in the area, as well as finding out where they have been seen all over the country.

Diana Hagues, the Count Bat Project’s regional officer for the North East, said there are 10 different species of bat to be spotted across the region.

She said: “The project is funded by the heritage lottery fund to spur more people on to take part in bat conservation.

“The great thing is you don’t have to go out into the countryside to see them, you can just look in your back garden at night.

“In Newcastle, for example, Leazes Park is a very good place to spot bats.

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