Rufford has all been a favorite of the local bat population for many years and recent surveys have identified a total of 7 species using the site with at least 4 of these species breeding.
Bats that have recently been recorded by Nottinghamshire Bat group and a recent ecology surveyor are:
Natterer's
Brandt's
Whiskered
Daubenton's
Brown
long-eared
Soprano
pips
Common
pip
We are really lucky to have this many species on site and taylor our woodland management to reflect this by using minimal intervention techniques in the woodland such as just clearing dangerous trees and a proportion of the scrub layer. We do this to improve the structure and diversity of the woodland as a whole and to ensure younger saplings and ground flora have a chance to take off , this in turn encourages insects into the woodland which are a bats favorite food.
The other bonus we have here at Rufford which bats just love is the lake. On a warm summers evening they can been seen doing aerial acrobatics over the open water catching insects as they go putting on a fantastic display for whoever might be passing at that moment.
So next time your out for a summers evening walk just before dusk, head to the lake to see if you can catch the show.
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