Saturday 29th August saw our first Bat Detector Workshop, where we built six extremely capable bat detectors to a design from Phil Avery of Somerset Bat Group. On 1st September, some of the group tried out their new detectors and learned how to interpret them on a guided walk led by local expert Trevor, and identified common and soprano pipistrelles and Daubentons bats in Mousley Bottom.
The detector workshop was well received by participants and we are looking to run further workshops if there is sufficient demand.
The detectors can be used just for personal interest, but also to help with citizen science surveys run by the Bat Conservation Trust. This also ties in well with the Chapel-en-le-Frith Biodiversity Group’s new ambitious 5-year project dedicated to surveying, mapping, and boosting bat populations across the Chapel-en-le-Frith Parish and surrounding High Peak, thanks to a grant awarded by the Peak District National Park Foundation.
Many thanks to Phil and Andy from Somerset Bat Group, Steve and Nigel from New Mills Repair Cafe for their technical support, and Trevor for his bat knowledge.
