They're going batty down at Porthkerry
More than 50 people have enjoyed a nocturnal bat walk through
the woods at Porthkerry Country Park in Barry.
The event was organised by the park ranger service and,
introducing visitors to the fascinating world of bats, Steve
Pickering, of the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend Bat Group,
revealed that they can live for up to 30 years and that the noctule
bat, Britain's largest, shouts four times louder than the legal
limit of a nightclub.
Armed with torches and bat detectors, the walkers meandered
through meadows and woodlands in the Vale Council-owned park, the
quiet night air being broken with the excited cries of ‘ Look
there’s one’ and the click, click, plop as the detectors picked up
another bat.
Mel Stewart, ranger at Porthkerry, said: “It was a wonderful
night. We saw at least three different species of bat. Porthkerry
is full of lovely old trees which make fantastic sites for bats to
roost in."
The walk proved so popular that the ranger service and the bat
group will be organising a similar event later in the summer.
To find out more about joining a bat group or future events at
Porthkerry, please ring the ranger service on (01446) 733589.