It's all gone batty at Threave!
Dumfries and Galloway led the nation in conservation this week when Britain's first bat reserve was opened at Threave Estate, near Castle Douglas on Wednesday.
The National Trust for Scotland, which launched the dedicated bat reserve, say that it hopes the reserve, which is generously supported by Scottish Natural Heritage, will become a centre of learning and research for the flying mammals and increase public awareness.
Both bats and their roosts are protected by law in the UK but over the past century their populations have suffered serious decline. Now there are signs which suggest that some species' numbers are starting to stabilise and recover.
Visitors to Threave can now take part in a Bat Trail and learn more about where bats roost at the centre where seven species that have made their home there.
And they won't need to stay up until dusk to find out about bats as during the day the Bat Mobile will also tour the Threave Estate and beyond.
The charity's interim chairman and lifelong conservationist Dick Balharry conducted the formal opening.
Mr Balharry said: "More than three quarters of the National Trust for Scotland's properties are home to bats.
"That means over the years, we have built up considerable expertise in bat conservation – we know where they like to live, what they like to eat and how they need to be protected. The Threave Bat Reserve – Scotland's first ever dedicated reserve – will help protect bats and their habitats for the future, enabling us to educate others in the care and protection of these fascinating creatures."
Nature Conservation Officer, Lindsay Mackinlay said: "Threave is the perfect spot for Scotland's first bat reserve. Home to a diverse bat population, its buildings and woodland provide plenty of roosting spots and its beautiful gardens, rich meadows and wetlands mean an abundance of insects. A lot of work by a lot of people has gone into establishing this reserve."
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Weather for Newton Stewart
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
