Charity wants ‘bat detectives’ for nighttime investigation

A leading local conservation charity is calling on people in Devon to help it discover more about the county’s bats.

Devon Wildlife Trust is about to embark on the ninth year of its Devon Bat Survey. The research is believed to be one of the biggest citizen science projects in the county and has already collected more than 1.3 million bat records. Data from the surveys play a vital role in helping to protect bats.

The 2024 Devon Bat Survey is about to open on Tuesday 7^th May and Devon Wildlife Trust is hoping to recruit volunteer ‘bat detectives’ to take part. No previous experience of bat detecting is necessary. Instead, participants need to agree to host a small electronic bat detector in their garden for three consecutive nights. The bat detectors then record the ultrasonic signals made by bats as they navigate the dark during their nighttime flights.

Devon Wildlife Trust’s Lindsay Mahon coordinates the bat survey as part of her work for Saving Devon’s Treescapes project. Lindsay said:

“Last year our wonderful volunteer bat detectives recorded more than 350,000 bat passes – that is, records of bats flying by. Many of these were common kinds of bat such as pipistrelles, but the surveys also turned up several rarities including threatened greater horseshoe bats.

The results of the bat survey provide us with an invaluable insight into the habits of these fascinating animals. We use its results to help direct our work to where it’s needed most – protecting the homes and feeding grounds of Devon’s bat populations.”  

This year’s Devon Bat Survey will run until early October, coinciding with the months when bats are most active. Signing up as a volunteer bat detective is free to do via the Devon Wildlife Trust website https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/devon-bat-survey-2024 Participants book the dates on which they want to undertake their survey and then arrange to pick up their bat detector from one of 12 host centres dotted around the county (see full list below). After three nights of recording, they return their bat detector and upload their survey recordings to an online system which analyses the sounds and returns the results showing which types of bats were detected.

This year, one of the Bat Survey’s host centres is the Younghayes Centre in Cranbrook, East Devon. Andrew Chapman-New, Ranger at Cranbrook Town Council said:

“Cranbrook Town Council and I are very thankful to be a Devon Bat Survey host centre. We are excited to find out what species of bats we have in and around our community. Our Country Park is the heart of our young town and is home to a range of wildlife which the community admire and love. This is a great opportunity for individuals and groups to get hands on and discover the biodiversity and nocturnal life around Cranbrook and surrounding areas. Through identifying species populations, we can implement strategies to further support conservation within our communities.”

DWT’s Bat Survey Coordinator, Lindsay Mahon said:

“We encourage people of all ages, in all parts of the county, to join in and take part in the Devon Bat Survey. All we ask is that you place your detector in a secure location, such as a private garden, follow the instructions we provide, and then enjoy your results. My top tip is to sign up early to take part as bookings fill up fast.”

More information about the Devon Bat Survey is available at https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/devon-bat-survey-2024

Bookings for bat detectors will open at the same web page on Tuesday 7^th May.

The full list of host centres where people can borrow a bat detector includes:

• Younghayes Centre in Cranbrook, East Devon
• Devon Wildlife Trust, Cricklepit Mill, Exeter
• Avon Mill Garden Centre, Loddiswell, South Devon
• St Bridget Garden Centre, Clyst St. Mary, East Devon
• Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust, Occombe Farm, Paignton
• Puffing Billy Café, Great Torrington, North Devon
• Northam Burrows Country Park, Northam, North Devon
• Braunton Burrows Countryside Centre, Braunton, North Devon
• The Garden Shop, Colyton, East Devon
• Churchinford & District Community Shop, Blackdown Hills
• Becky Falls, Manaton, Dartmoor
• The Tamar Valley Centre, Gunnislake, West Devon

Please note: a booking to take part in the Devon Bat Survey must be made before a bat detector can be collected.

Common Pipistrelle bats. Photo credit Tom Marshall 

DWT’s Bat Survey Coordinator, Lindsay Mahon, deploys bat detector.

A Torrington Scandal. 'The Ordeal of Miss Lucy Jones'

A Devon author who specialises in breathing life into true stories from the past has chosen a remarkable Torrington story for her latest book, The Ordeal of Miss Lucy Jones.

In 1879, the effigies of two local people were tarred, feathered and burned on Torrington Common by a disorderly crowd of three thousand people. Who were the two victims, and why were they being publicly shamed?

‘I was fascinated by a report of the event in a nineteenth century newspaper,’ said author Liz Shakespeare, who lives near Bideford, ‘so I decided to find out more.’

Incidents of ‘rough music’ were not uncommon at the time.  A crowd of people, often in disguise, would march to the houses of those who had committed an offence against society, often a couple who were believed to be having an illicit affair. The crowd would make a terrible racket by banging pots and pans and blowing horns, and sometimes effigies of the couple were burnt. However, this event in Torrington was on an unprecedented scale.

‘One of the effigies was of Miss Lucy Jones, the daughter of a Torrington doctor who lived in Castle House,’ said Liz. ‘As a church visitor to the poor, she had to meet regularly with the curate, Reverend Francis. He was very unpopular, so when someone claimed to have seen him and Lucy ‘acting improperly’ together on the Common, the people of Torrington seized the opportunity to be rid of him.’

The ensuing enquiry, culminating in the burning of the effigies, was reported in no less than fifty-two newspapers throughout Britain, and all included the name of Lucy Jones.

‘It would have been a terrible time for her,’ said Liz. ‘The investigation into Reverend Francis’ behaviour was reported in great detail in the local newspaper. I studied this carefully, and although there were plentiful reasons for his unpopularity, I am convinced that Lucy was innocent of any wrongdoing.’

Liz’s novel draws on extensive historical research to tell the story from Lucy’s point of view. Lucy Jones liked to walk on the Common and to take excursions by train to Bideford and Instow, and the novel describes Torrington and the surrounding area as it was in the 1870’s.

Reverend Francis had to leave the town as a result of the scandal. ‘But after the burning of the effigies,’ Liz said, ‘Lucy was afraid to leave the house. Knowing that her name would be forever associated with the scandal, she despaired of ever being able to marry her childhood sweetheart.’

While researching the book, Liz particularly enjoyed walking on Torrington Common, as Lucy had done.

‘As I studied the history of the Common, I came to understand what a powerful influence it has had on the people of Torrington. Their grazing rights gave them an independence and a determination to unite and organise which enabled them to get rid of Reverend Francis, and I believe that determination still survives today.’

Torrington is famous for its Mayfair, and for the hugely successful bonfires organised by the Torrington Cavaliers which raise a lot of money for local charities, and take place on the same spot as the burning of the effigies in 1879.

Liz Shakespeare has been writing for more than thirty years, this is her seventh book. All her books are set in North Devon and are based on true stories.

The Ordeal of Miss Lucy Jones will be launched at The Plough Arts Centre in Torrington at 2pm on Thursday 25^th April. Booking is essential, tickets are £6 to include tea and cake. Liz will give a talk on the background and writing of the novel, and there will be the opportunity to buy signed copies.

Liz will also be speaking at Parracombe Arts and Literary Festival on May 6^th, Bude Literary Festival on May 17^th, RHS Rosemoor on May 18^th, and Torrington Library on June 13^th.

After 25^th April, The Ordeal of Miss Lucy Jones can be purchased from local outlets, or ordered post-free from www.lizshakespeare.co.uk.

Devon author, Liz Shakespeare, in Torrington Market.

 

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The Ordeal of Miss Lucy Jones by Liz Shakespeare
Letterbox Books - 336 pages Publication date 25/4/2024
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For further details or to purchase the book
Contact: Liz Shakespeare 

Email: lizshakespeare@hotmail.com

Website www.lizshakespeare.co.uk 

Burton Art Gallery launches Bideford Photomonth 3rd May – 2nd June

Bideford Photomonth is a celebration of photography and rural life. The Burton Art Gallery in Bideford, North Devon will host a photography exhibition of two photographers who cross generations. Internationally renowned photographer Martin Parr will be showing alongside Devon based photographer Robert Darch. Together, they will share their view of rural life; a contrast to the James Ravilious prints in the Burton’s own collection which will also be on display.

Together, they will share their view of rural life; a contrast to the James Ravilious prints in the Burton’s own collection which will also be on display.

To coincide with these shows, we have created Bideford Photomonth during May.Visible Bideford, a series of portraits by Anita Corbin exhibited in shop windows, will lead visitors from the Burton up to Bideford Pannier Market, where there will be an exhibition of Gideon Mendel’s work When I’m 40. This work, commissioned by Beaford in 2023, depicts local children aged 9 or 10 years old wondering about what their favourite place will look like in 40 years time, raising questions about the climate and our local environment. Visible Bideford was made by Anita Corbin in October 2022; the photographs are a celebration of friendship and community, depicting both locals and visitors to our Little White Town.

Throughout the month of May, the Burton will host a number of workshops, talks and events to accompany these exhibitions. Our Art Box will be turned into a Camera Obscura by local artist Stephen Raff, and look out for workshops run by Foto-Now in the town and surrounding area.

We Need You!

North Devon is an area of outstanding natural beauty, one of many on this island we call home. To celebrate the beauty of the British countryside, we want to collect your photographs. Please submit any photographs you have through Instagram using the hashtag #ruralconnections. Each day through May we will show a selection of these on a screen in the gallery.

Photo credit Robert Darch. (All Rights Reserved)

Young Bulls Eating Thistle Heads, July 1981. Photo credit Martin Parr (All Rights Reserved)

 When I’m 40. Photo credits Gideon Mendel

Visible Bideford. Photo credit Anita Corben

(All Rights Reserved)

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THE BURTON AT BIDEFORD

Kingsley Road, Bideford EX39 2QQ 

Email: info@theburton.org

Tel: 01237 471455
Website: www.burtonartgallery.co.uk

Instagram/Facebook @BurtonatBideford