SET 45/05 – River Stour: Bat Hibernacula Creation Project

Projects > River Stour: Bat Hibernacula Creation Project

£2,355 granted in January 2006 for the creation of Bat roosting / hibernation sites

The Dedham Vale and Stour Countryside Project have been working alongside The Sudbury Common Lands Charity (SCLC), which was established in 1897 and now manages 210 acres of amenity and conservation land on the River Stour floodplain. 115 acres of these are designated as a Local Nature Reserve, and a further 25 acres as a county wildlife site. The Charity also has a close working partnership with other local groups and government agencies, including the Countryside Agency and the Environment Agency

The current project aims to convert 5 WWII Pillboxes of 3 different designs into Bat Hibernacula, to create year-round roosting as well as winter hibernation sites. All the boxes are located on the Suffolk-side of the River Stour, and form part of the anti-invasion “stop-line” that runs between Long Melford and Bures. The applicants are also applying to the Essex Environmental Trust for funding for the conversion of a further 5 boxes on the Essex side of the River Stour, making this an ideal opportunity for the two LTCS trusts to work side by side on a project.


Entrance to Box 1, just north of Ballingdon



Example of “bat brick”, which is cemented to the ceiling, to form bat roosting / nesting places within the
bunkers. Also “bat breeze blocks” and “bat roofing tiles” are cemented to the roof and walls to provide
roosting places