Trust tracking down Hill of Tarvit bats

Experts and volunteers from conservation charity the National Trust for Scotland will check whether any bats have made their home at Hill of Tarvit in Fife on 22 and 23 July.

Experts and volunteers from conservation charity the National Trust for Scotland will check whether any bats have made their home at Hill of Tarvit in Fife on 22 and 23 July.

The early 20th century mansion-house and its beautiful grounds are cared for by the Trust and is one of seventeen Trust properties taking part in bat surveys this summer.

Hill of Tarvit has plenty of bat activity to monitor, with at least 3 known roosts.

The charity is keen to establish exactly where the bats live and which species are present, as part of its ongoing work to protect and conserve the legally-protected mammals and their roosts. The project is part-funded by Scottish Natural Heritage.

Mr Lindsay Mackinlay, Nature Conservation Adviser said:

“Bats can be tricky to find because they are so small. They can squeeze into incredibly tight gaps and live in inaccessible parts of buildings and trees. We know there are roosts around Hill of Tarvit and we need to see whether any new roosts have been established. It’s important to do these checks so that we can make sure these creatures and their habitats are not disturbed.”