This project ran from 2011 to 2014 and was funded by the Brecon Beacons Trust, Heritage Lottery Fund and Natural Resources Wales. The Our Beacon for Bats Project involved local people in helping to find out more about lesser horseshoe bats in the Usk Valley.

The project focused on the upper Usk Valley in South Wales, from Brecon to Crickhowell. This area has one of the most significant populations of lesser horseshoe bats in Europe, and the Trust manages five lesser horseshoe bat maternity roosts in the locality.

The project contributed to long-term conservation of the lesser horseshoe bat by improving understanding of the importance of local landscape features; planting and restoring hedgerows to improve connectivity of bat foraging routes; enhancing lime kilns and pill boxes as suitable bat roosting sites; designing and trialling a night roost for bats; training volunteers in bat detection and survey techniques; educating school children and raising awareness of bats within the local community. The end of project report can be read here.