The European population of Greater Horseshoe bats has crashed by 90% over the last 100 years. This has left them clinging on in just a few special landscapes – luckily Devon remains a stronghold. Our county still has a third of the 6,500 greater horseshoe bats that remain in the UK.

Focused on 11 priority locations within Devon, it’s the job of the Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat project to conserve key roost sites and safeguard the surrounding countryside that acts as vital feeding grounds for the bats. Within in the East Devon National Landscape, the core areas are on the coast between Beer and Sidmouth and inland around Southleigh, Northleigh and Colyton. 

The project is committed to providing  advice and assistance for landowners to help manage, restore and create the networks of habitat the bats need. Working with communities and schools, the project is also passionate about raising the profile of the greater horseshoe bat, enabling everyone to play their part in its conservation.

The project needs the communities that have these rare and wonderful animals in their midst to help us provide a better future for Devon’s greater horseshoe bats

We are now looking for schools and community groups to come forward and become champions for their local bats – helping to improve bat habitats, taking part in bat detecting surveys and other citizen science initiatives.

Visit  www.devonbatproject.org for more information, including bat facts and video of the bats in their summer roosts.

Anyone living close to one of our Devon greater horseshoe bat areas and who wishes to help, should contact the project’s Community Engagement Officer.