THE Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is holding a Bat Walk and Talk at Conigre Mead Nature Reserve in Melksham on 9th August, 8.30pm-10.30pm.
There will be a chance to see bats dart and dive over the reserve and hear their ‘silent’ nocturnal calls with special detectors.
Local conservationist Ian Cardy said, “Bats are terribly misunderstood and are an essential part of the natural world.
“Bats are not blind, some catch their prey using their eyes, they will not get tangled in your hair, they are not related to mice and they will not attack people.
“Bats are not pests, in fact they eat insects and one bat can eat 3,000 midges in one night. Bats are also very clean, and their droppings are dry and will not make a mess.
“Only three species of bats are vampires and drink animals’ blood and they all live in South America.
“Bats are the only flying mammals, having one baby a year and some live 30 years. There are 1,300 species of bats in the world, a quarter of all mammal species and they have been around on earth for at least 75 million years.
“They are having a hard time and need your help to survive; you can help by encouraging insects in your garden and by protecting the places where they roost in houses, trees and bridges.”
The Bat Walk and Talk is free and no booking is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, contact Amy Blount on 01380 725670 extention 235 or email amyb@wiltshirewildlife.org
