Dean Hall, Littledean, Cinderford is a Greater Horseshoe maternity colony and small hibernation roost, situated close to the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. The site is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of the bats.
This report is the second phase of the project. This first phase is written up in Natural England Research Report NERR012.
Natural England commissioned this work to identify the flight paths used by female Greater horseshoe bats while roosting at Dean Hall including the principal foraging areas and linear features of the landscape.
A secondary objective was to identify any night roosts used by the bats.
The study has identified the principal foraging areas and commuting routes used by Greater horseshoe bats roosting at Dean Hall in Gloucestershire.
The findings will be used by the local Natural England team, planning officers, partners and others and have been published, to help:
- Protect the larger roosts of horseshoe bats within the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Bat SAC.
- Assess the impact of local planning applications.