In a Barbastelle World…

CATHYJEWSON is the project officer for a conservation project currently being delivered in Pembrokeshire. It is part of the Natur am Byth all-Wales nature recovery programme. Here she explains more about it…

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Natur am Byth is the largest programme of its kind in the UK to date. Led by Natural Resources Wales in partnership with nine wildlife charities, the programme aims to connect people and nature through practical conservation activities, arts ventures and engagement events, empowering local communities to take ownership of protecting nature on their doorstep.

The programme is split into 11 local place-based projects around the country, each project being led by a different NGO; the Vincent Wildlife Trust is leading the Barbastelle Bat Project, one of three projects being delivered here in Pembrokeshire.

Barbastelles are among our rarest bats in the UK, and Pembrokeshire is a stronghold for the species – it is, in fact, the only place in Wales where barbastelles are known to have breeding colonies. They are a woodland specialist species, relying heavily on old-growth broadleaf woodlands for roosting and foraging.

There are three key areas in the county where roosts have been identified – Pengelli National Nature Reserve, the Cleddau estuary woodlands, and Colby Woodland Garden, however there are numerous other areas where barbastelles have also been recorded.

We are already engaging with local people through events, volunteer activities, collaborating with schools and local communities, and the project has gone from strength to strength in its first year of delivery.

With three more years until the project closes, we hope to hear a lot more from Cathy. Watch this space.