Urban Coexistence
- The Greater Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) is native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia
- The GHB is Near Threatened (IUCN), protected under EU Habitats Directive and Wildlife and Countryside Act in the UK
- A GHB can live up to 30 years
- GHB’s need Woodland, Grassland, Farmland and Urban areas especially buildings and barns
- For GHB’s connected habitats are very important for:
- Providing a diverse range of insect populations
- Mating and to be able to find roosts
- Migration, by providing safe spaces to move between summer and winter roosts
- Sites like Hogs Wood provide a rich foraging areas while reducing disturbance from human activity, providing roosting sites and reduced light pollution
- One way to protect the GHB is to designate roosting sites, for this more surveys would be needed
- Greater Horseshoe Bats thrive in variable and connected habitats, and urban areas can play a crucial role in their conservation
- Urban planning must consider Hogs Wood as a wildlife corridor and potential as summer roosting site for GHB’s
