A Birds and Bats Eye View

It’s not often that you get to look out and down on the churchyard from the church roof.  If you do it inevitably means that necessary and expensive repair work is being carried out.  In the early summer of 2024 the scaffolding went up after months of careful planning and a great deal of fundraising effort to repair decaying masonry.  The chosen contractors were a dedicated partnership who specialise in repairing ancient masonry with environmental sensitivity.

Through the summer they were in a privileged position to see the activities of the swifts who nest in the north and south sides of the church.  Typically, numbers were around 5-10 but at times up to 20 swifts were observed whirling and crying around the church tower.  This represents a significant colony for our area and one that we can cherish. 

Swifts are colony nesters who like to come and go as a group.  One of the marvels of summer is to witness swift “screaming parties” as they set about high-speed foraging and call to each other to stay in contact.  When they are out and about a nesting location may be very quiet but when they come back the sky will be alive with their zooming and whirling flight.  

It is worth mentioning the care that was taken to safeguard the church’s wildlife prior to the repair work.  The work was needed at the East and West gable ends.  So bees in the church tower and the swifts in the north and south eves were not going to be affected. 

The impact on any bats was the main concern and a Bat Survey and Mitigation Plan was commissioned.  Over 3 evenings there were more than 100 observations of bats using the churchyard.    In addition, low numbers of individual pipistrelle and soprano pipistrelle bats using the church gables for daytime roosts were detected.  The survey reported that both species were widespread and abundant in Herefordshire.  In order to protect our local bats, suitable bat-sized crevices were incorporated into the new masonry in the gables.  It’s an example of sensible measures that can be taken to protect wildlife. 

A group of enthusiasts meet regularly to maintain and improve the churchyard for people and nature.  It is rewarding work, and you would be very welcome to join us.   Work parties start at 9:30 and finish around 12 noon.  The next dates are:

Saturday March 1st

Saturday April 5th

Saturday May 3rd