Annual General Meeting followed by an illustrated talk: Horseshoes Heading East

Speaker: Martyn Phillis (HNHS Vice Chair and member of the Surrey Bat Group)

The Greater Horseshoe Bat Project was started after this rare bat was found roosting in a semi-derelict building near Petworth in 2019.
This species is very sensitive to light, humidity and temperature and nursery roosts need to be maintained at about 27ºC to maximise the chance of survival.
The building needed to be acquired and then structural repairs were necessary. The Sussex Bat Group and Vincent Wildlife Trust secured funding from many contributors (including our Society) and by March 2024 major works were completed. The partnership continues to work with landowners and communities across the south-east to improve habitat and resources for this bat and other rare species.
In 2024 a total of 12 adults and 3 pups were counted so the colony has probably doubled in size from the first discovery.