A haven for bats or just plain batty?

[Deb London]

We found three dead trunks tied to living trees. We think parts of them have been carved out for bats (see shots below). My first reaction was "What the flip?". Then I thought about it. And my second reaction was "What the flip?".

Are bat boxes just not good enough? Can someone tell me what's occurring here in Wanstead Park?

[Gill Catton]

Ooooh that looks like a really good idea!! bat boxes are rarely big and thick enough to be frost-free so are unsuitable for hibernating bats. Specific schwegler hibernation boxes are expensive and very heavy (scary to check when up a ladder too!) so if you've got some fallen trunk to use for free... brilliant!!
Also there are a range of invertebrates that rely specifically on standing deadwood so this trunk will be available for them too. I think this is borderline genius - not something I've seen before but an idea I'll certainly use myself should the need occur!

In fact would you mind hugely sending me the pics you have taken?

[Deb London]

I love the "genius" bit. We were really puzzling over this, and were genuinley worried that it might have been the work of a crackpot, or health and safety gone wrong, or maybe nothing to do with bats (modern art possibly).

We did not realize we might have been looking at a stroke of genius. Well you live and learn.

[Deb London]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Ooooh that looks like a really good idea!! bat boxes are rarely big and thick enough to be frost-free so are unsuitable for hibernating bats. Specific schwegler hibernation boxes are expensive and very heavy (scary to check when up a ladder too!) so if you've got some fallen trunk to use for free... brilliant!!
Also there are a range of invertebrates that rely specifically on standing deadwood so this trunk will be available for them too. I think this is borderline genius - not something I've seen before but an idea I'll certainly use myself should the need occur!

In fact would you mind hugely sending me the pics you have taken?

That's not a problem. When you double click on each pic to get it larger, you should be able to copy a reasonably good image to your desktop. Please do help yourself.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Deb London

That's not a problem. When you double click on each pic to get it larger, you should be able to copy a reasonably good image to your desktop. Please do help yourself.

Thank you
Didn't want to take without asking

[Deb London]

And this is a taller trunk:

[Gill Catton]

Lovely thank you!

[solus]

Wouldn't it be nice if a few more places erected information boards to explain to the public why something is being done or what grazing animals are actually doing for the habitat? There was a very good explanation on a temporary board a few years back on Dawlish Warren as to why their grazing ponies were there.

*Sorry, gotta rush - dinner's cooked!*

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by solus

Wouldn't it be nice if a few more places erected information boards to explain to the public why something is being done or what grazing animals are actually doing for the habitat? There was a very good explanation on a temporary board a few years back on Dawlish Warren as to why their grazing ponies were there.

*Sorry, gotta rush - dinner's cooked!*

costs money though don't it and then you've got to maintain it too....

[nightshade]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Ooooh that looks like a really good idea!! bat boxes are rarely big and thick enough to be frost-free so are unsuitable for hibernating bats. Specific schwegler hibernation boxes are expensive and very heavy (scary to check when up a ladder too!) so if you've got some fallen trunk to use for free... brilliant!!
Also there are a range of invertebrates that rely specifically on standing deadwood so this trunk will be available for them too. I think this is borderline genius - not something I've seen before but an idea I'll certainly use myself should the need occur!

In fact would you mind hugely sending me the pics you have taken?

So this is a hollow, or cavity with a 15mm entry. I am guessing Gill, you seem to to have it sussed though.