Our Research

The Vincent Wildlife Trust's research and conservation programme focuses on British mammals. Current work is centered on the bats and mustelids.

The VWT's pioneering research has provided methodologies and solutions to conservation issues which have been used internationally. Our flagship work, on-going since the 1980s, focuses on the acquisition of greater and lesser horseshoe bat maternity roosts, and renovating them with special adaptations to improve the roosting conditions for these unique bats. We are now expanding this work to develop understanding of the wider landscape use of the bats through telemetry and other methods including the involvement of local people in participatory GIS techniques.

Our other main area of focus currently is the pine marten, a medium sized carnivore. We commissioned the first ever national pine marten survey in 1983 and have recently undertaken surveys to understand the distribution and status of this species in England and Wales. Subsequently, we have produced a report on the evidence of pine martens in England and Wales 1996 - 2007. Our pine marten sightings database is a valuable source of evidence and information for the whereabouts of this elusive carnivore.

Bats

The VWT manages over 40 bat roosts in England, Wales and Ireland. Species under research include the greater horseshoe bat, lesser horseshoe bat, Bechstein's bat and the barbastelle.

Rodents

In 2001, the VWT published a survey of the hazel dormouse in Wales. Current research into the species is mainly targeted on the effects of human disturbance on dormice.

Surveys of the distribution and status of the water vole in Britain were carried out in 1989-1990 and 1996-1998. A full report is available detailing the results of the 1996-1998 water vole and mink survey.

Mustelids

In the 1970s, the Trust made a major contribution to a series of nationwide otter distribution surveys in Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. It also established the Otter Haven Project which helped to protect and improve riparian habitats in strategic areas in England and Wales, enabling fragile populations to survive and recover.

In 1999, the VWT published the findings of its study into the distribution and status of the polecat in Britain. This was followed in 2007 with the publication of The Polecat Survey of Britain 2004-2006.

• The Trust has recently completed its ‘Prospects for Pine Martens' project, researching the status of the pine marten in England and Wales.
• Research is currently being undertaken on methods to survey for stoats, weasels and the Irish stoat