On Saturday 7th September the Friend Of Ilkley Moor held a guided walk to discover the bats on Ilkley Moor, led by Andrew Milne.
32 people attended the walk, and with the use of bat detectors both Common Pipistrelle and Noctule bats were detected. Bats are flying mammals that feed exclusively on insects.
Pipistrelles have a distinctive way of flying and are the bats you are most likely to see, they have a swooping, fluttering flight and often fly in circles following the same route repeatedly.
Noctule bats are one of the largest British species of bat, primarily tree dwellers, living in holes in the tree. They have a characteristic powerful, direct flight, with steep dives when chasing insects.
More practical conservation days in habitat management took place in September, with volunteers helping to manage and conserve the habitats of Ilkley Moor and restore eroded footpaths.
Everyone had a great time on the event and said they look forward to attending more events from this year’s events and learning programme so they can discover more of Ilkley Moors amazing heritage.
The Friends of Ilkley Moor have received grant support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to help deliver these events and volunteer days. Made possible by National Lottery players.
The events programme and heritage walks can be downloaded from the FOIM website www.ilkleymoor.org