We are actively involved in the IEEM and strongly support our local section. We have organised local events and hosted committee meetings. During 2007 we hosted a grassland conservation day which was attended by over 30 delegates.

 

Our staff are actively involved in local bat groups (North Lancashire and East Lancashire). During 2008 we hosted two joint NW IEEM and East Lancashire Bat Group events involving simultaneous emergence surveys of lime kilns.

 

Our involvement in researching bats in the Forest of Bowland has been given huge impetus by David Fisher - Earthworks & Environmental Design (EED) and licensed bat worker. David has almost 30 years experience as a countryside professional. He was employed in the New Forest to establish the Forestry Commission Ranger Service in 1990. He has held bat licences since 1989 and has a wealth of experience of bat ecology and conservation. He is also an environmental designer and is frequently commissioned to provide landscape and community designs for a range of projects. He is conveniently situated in an adjoining office and we work collaboratively on a wide range of projects usually in respect of bat work or design.  Our relationship extends beyond project work and during 2007 collectively we established the Bowland Wildlife Research Group – an informal group which aims to research the natural history of Bowland. Are current interest focuses upon the wildlife and heritage aspects of lime kilns and caves in the Forest of Bowland AONB. More recently research into the use of lime kilns by bats has been progressed by Lucy Blades through her MSC project which studied the use of kilns by natterer’s bat (Myotis nattereri).

 

We devote time to promoting conservation initiatives and we have links with local schools, particularly St Michael and St John’s Primary School, Clitheroe. We assisted the school with the preparation of their School Travel Plan which has been used as an example of good practice. During 2009 we donated 5 Schwegler bat boxes to the school and ran workshops with school children. We support the local community actively and regularly use the village hall facilities. We donated two large wall mounted Schwegler bat boxes to the renovated village hall in 2007.