Safeguarding lesser horseshoe bats in the Upper Usk Valley

The Our Beacon for Bats project is a three- year project, funded by the Brecon Beacons Trust and Heritage Lottery Fund, which will build on lesser horseshoe bat conservation work carried out by The Vincent Wildlife Trust over many years.

The project area covers the Usk Valley in South Wales, from Brecon to Crickhowell, which has one of the most significant populations of lesser horseshoe bats in Europe. Here, the Trust manages five lesser horseshoe bat maternity roosts and this project takes the conservation of the bats one step further, beyond their roosts and into the wider landscape. 

We are raising awareness of the importance of lesser horseshoe bats in the upper Usk Valley by working with local people, schools and community groups and providing opportunities for people to learn about the ecology and environmental needs of this bat species. We are also providing local landowners with guidance towards enhancing a lesser horseshoe bat landscape, together with identifying important landscape features for the bats in order to help inform local land-use decisions.

Read our latest project e-newsletter to keep up-to-date with what's happening in the project. 

Upcoming events

Monthly bat surveys – May to September 2012

We will be running bat detector surveys along hedgerows once a month from May to September. They will be on Tuesday nights with a fall-back option of Wednesday night if the weather is unsuitable.  

Provisional dates: 15th May, 26th June, 17th July, 21st August, 18th September. 

Canal bat walk – Friday 8th June 2012

Join us for an evening bat walk along the canal at Goytre Wharf to help celebrate 200 Years of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. 

Bats at Brecon Promenade - Wednesday 1st August 2012

A Brecon Beacons National Park Authority event in partnership with Brecknock Bat Group, Brecknock Wildlife Trust and The Vincent Wildlife Trust. Learn about bat ecology, watch bat behaviour and hear their echolocation calls using bat detector equipment during this fascinating evening event. This is an access for all, family friendly event suitable for everyone over the age of five years. Suggested donation:  £5 per adult.  Booking essential on 01874 623366 or 01874 623366. 

If you are interested in attending any of these events or learning more about the project and how you can get involved, please contact project officer Jane Sedgeley.

The Our Beacon for Bats project is funded by the Brecon Beacons Trust and Heritage Lottery Fund.