AnnualReportfor20251SeptCOMP2026 - Flipbook - Page 10
By 2030, VWT will have:
1
strengthened the resilience of VWT priority bat populations at
the local, regional and national level with a comprehensive
network of bat reserves.
Main achievements during 2025
A Increasing the number and range of VWT’s bat roost network
B Improving the resilience of both VWT and non-VWT roosts
against predation, competition and climate change
A VWT’s roosts, which are safeguarded in perpetuity,
Photo: ©Daniel Hargreaves
protect 50% of the greater horseshoe bat population in
Britain, 10% of the lesser horseshoe bat population in
Britain and 25% of the lesser horseshoe bat population
in Ireland.
Until recently, this comprised 30 lesser horseshoe bat
maternity roosts in Britain and Ireland, and 7 greater
horseshoe bat maternity roosts in Britain. In addition,
VWT now manages an additional 10 signi昀椀cant roosts.
These comprise 6 bespoke lesser horseshoe bat towers
in Ireland and 1 in Somerset, plus 3 new greater
horseshoe bat roosts in Sussex. Building a network
of roosts ensures increased connectivity and extended
range for horseshoe bats in Britain and Ireland.
B We continue to work to improve the resilience of
roosts to predation, competition between species and
the impact of climate change. For example, at our
largest greater horseshoe bat maternity roost at Rock
Farm in Devon, predator proo昀椀ng was successfully
completed in 2025 to deter barn owls from gaining
access. The barn owls initially accessed the roost in 2023,
causing all 2,000 bats to abandon the roost. Predator
proo昀椀ng over the following two winters successfully
excluded the owls and we have seen a return of the
bats using the site with more than 1,000 adults
counted in 2025, and more than 500 pups recorded.
Work at non-VWT sites during 2025 included working with
Carmarthenshire Council at Pembrey Country Park where
Six WWII munition bunkers were made secure for the
small number of resident greater horseshoe bats roosting
within the passageways. Work included securing the
structures from public access to reduce disturbance and
increasing the available roosting substrate. Now that the
passageways are secured, we hope to see bats using the
bunkers more regularly and in greater numbers.
10 Vincent Wildlife Trust Annual Report and Financial Statements 2025
