Rare bats discovered in Vale woodland

RARE Bechstein’s bats have been discovered in Grafton Wood, near Grafton Flyford, by members of the Worcestershire Bat Group.

The group was surveying the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust nature reserve as part of a national survey to discover more about this elusive species.

Fergus Henderson, WBG member, explained: “Bechstein’s bats are notoriously difficult to spot as they hardly ever leave the canopy of their favoured broad-leaved woodland habitat.

“On a survey in Grafton Wood we found two breeding females and a juvenile. In Worcestershire this makes four sites with eight individual bats, exceeding all our expectations.”

The county now has the most northerly reports of breeding Beckstein’s bats in the country which makes it a really important county for the species.

James Hitchcock, conservation officer with Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, said: “The discovery of Bechstein’s bats on one of our nature reserves is great news. It means that the continued conservation work we’re doing is working.”