In the 1980s the VWT established three reserves for otters on the Somerset Levels and one for greater horseshoe bats in Devon.

Since the mid-1990s the VWT has concentrated its resources on bat conservation, and particularly on the protection and enhancement of roosts for rare bats. It has increasingly focused its resources on acquiring key breeding roosts for rarer bats such as the horseshoe bats and the Trust's reserves in the south-west of England include one of the largest greater horseshoe bat roosts in Europe. Together the VWT's eleven greater horseshoe bat roosts now support a substantial proportion of the British population.

During the period 1997-2005 the VWT established 44 new bat reserves (13 in Ireland, 10 in Wales and 21 in England). Most are old buildings typically selected as summer roosts by horseshoe bats. However, three reserves purchased in 1998 in the south-west of England are broadleaved woodlands known to be important foraging areas for greater horseshoe bats. This reflects the recognition that securing roosting sites is only half the battle in bat conservation; the protection of surrounding habitats is also critically important to the success of each colony.

To date the VWT manages more than 50 sites in England, Wales and Ireland.

Access
Access to VWT roost sites has to be denied because of the vulnerability of bats to disturbance.

For more information on British bats please go to our publicationspage.