14 BAT BOXES INSTALLED IN VICTORIA PARK

As part of a joint project with Berkshire Youth and the Town Council’s Green Spaces Working Group, children were given the opportunity to build a bat box during the half term break.

The bat boxes were made during the workshop at the Waterside Centre, home of Berkshire Youth, and were installed with the help of Sundog Hire and CA Cook & Co Tree Services, both giving their time and equipment free of charge for the project.  It's good news for Newbury’s bat population, as 14 new roosting boxes have now been installed at Victoria Park.

Each box was painted individually so they are all unique and the children will be able to visit the Park and distinguish their own design. James Heasman, the Town Council’s Parks & Open Spaces Supervisor, guided the children through the process of making the boxes with all materials supplied by Newbury Town Council.  The UK is home to 18 species of bat, the largest weighing the same as four £1 coins and the smallest weighing just as much as a 2p coin!

Cllr Martha Vickers, one of the members of the Council’s Green Spaces Working Group who attended the workshop said, “We were delighted with the number of children who came along to get involved. Installing the bat boxes will help local bats, encouraging them to move into areas that have limited roosting space.           

All UK bats and their roosts are protected by law, which means it is illegal to harm or disturb them so once they are up, we hope that our newly installed boxes will make good homes for bats in the area and will help increase the bat population in Newbury”.

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Contacts:

Cllr Jon Gage, Chair NTC Green Spaces Working Group jon.gage@newbury.gov.uk

Cllr Martha Vickers, Member NTC Green Spaces Working Group martha.vickers@newbury.gov.uk 01635 230046

James Heasman, NTC Parks & Open Spaces Supervisor james.heasman@newbury.gov.uk 07775 434475