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The Year of the Bat

16 February 2012

An existing woodland pond

It may surprise you to know that the Isle of Wight is home to no less than 14 species of bat and that some of the UK’s rarest woodland bats are island residents.

This is the UN’s Year of the Bat and the Isle of Wight is doing its bit to help our furry flying mammals. With funding from BIFFA, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust have teamed up with Pond Conservation, the Environment Agency and the Forestry Commission to create a staggering 30+ new ponds on the island.

Ponds are important habitats for bats because many species hunt for food over the water. Many of the new ponds are close to or within island woodlands such as Parkhurst Forest, Firestone Copse, Bouldnor and Briddlesford. The woodlands around Briddlesford have been designated as a European Special Area for Conservation for the significant breeding populations of the nationally rare Bechstein and Barbastelle Bats found there.

Nicola Wheeler, Pond Project Officer says, “Woodlands are an excellent place to create new ponds because they often have clean, unpolluted water - an asset which can enable them to become very high quality wildlife habitats. All the new ponds will be left to naturally colonise with local wetland plants. It is therefore vital that the public do not dispose of unwanted garden pond plants in the new woodland ponds.”

Ends

Newly created pond in Parkhurst ForestPhoto opportunity

Attached photo shows:

An established Island pond;

A newly created pond.

For additional images or to arrange photography, please contact:

Nicola Wheeler, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, on 01983 760016, e-mail:  nicolaw@hwt.org.uk

Notes to Editors

  1. The Isle of Wight Pond Project is led by the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, with funding support from Environment Agency and West Wight Landscape Partnership.
  2. The Million Ponds Project is a partnership of major landowners and land managers in England and Wales, led by Pond Conservation.  The Million Pond Project aims to ensure there are once again a million ponds in the UK, reversing a century of pond loss.  The project is supported by The Tubney Charitable Trust, Natural England, the Countryside Council for Wales, and The Esmée Fairburn Foundation.
  3. Pond Conservation is the national charity dedicated to protecting pond wildlife.  Pond Conservation gives advice, carries out research, promotes practical action and lobbies policy makers to ensure pond wildlife and pond habitats have a secure future.  Contact Pond Conservation via email at info@pondconservation.org.uk, on 01865 483 249, or visit the website at www.pondconservation.org.uk.
  4. The Countryside Survey 2007 found that 80% of the 500,000 wildlife ponds in England and Wales are in a ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ state, and that the condition of ponds has declined since an earlier study in 1996.  More information on this report is available at http://www.pondconservation.org.uk/aboutus/News/latestnews/cspondsurveylaunch.

For more information about this pond creation scheme, photographs, interviews etc, please contact Nicola Wheeler, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, on 01983 760016, e-mail:  nicolaw@hwt.org.uk

The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust strives to create a better future for wildlife and wild places in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.  It is the leading wildlife charity in the counties of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and is part of a nationwide network of 47 local charities. We work together to create a better future for wildlife and wild places in the UK. With the support of our 28,000 members, the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust is taking effective action to protect our natural heritage, helping it to flourish again. Find out more at www.hwt.org.uk 

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