Created October 2011
Last updated September 2012
NB.Surveys are for people with some bat experience and for insurance reasons are for members of Bedfordshire Bat Group only.
Checking for hibernating bats Photo Bob Cornes
Bat hibernation sites are protected by law and may only be visited in the presence of a bat worker licensed by Natural England. We are allowed to make a maximum of three visits per year, and to minimise disturbance numbers are limited. These trips are therefore available only to bat group members.
The Bedfordshire Bat Group surveys 16 hibernaculum sites each Winter, in December, January and February. The sites include private houses, cellars, icehouses and tunnels.
Icehouses
Woburn Icehouse. Photo Jude Hirstwood
There are a number of hibernation sites in Bedfordshire. Designed to store winter ice for use in the Summer, the good insulation make them excellent hibernation sites.
Read more about icehouses 2008-10-icehouses
One of the icehouses we check was improved in 2011 More
Purpose built hibernacula
These are to be found at |Aspley Guize 2005-4-Braystone Whipnade zoo 2009 whipsnade final and Luton Hoo 2010-1 luton Hoo
See slideshow of photos of hibernating bats (and moths)
December 2011 Survey improvements to an ice house site.
Survey Date 2012
14th January
15th January
16th February
8th December
9th December
Survey Dates for 2013
12th January
13th January
8th February
9th February