Batty Adventure at Mouldon Hill

Alongside Swindon Story Shed, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust & fellow Councillors

Organised by Haydon Wick Council, the Batty Adventure at Mouldon Hill situated in Priory Vale, was a brilliant evening of outdoor learning and community fun, with around 50 people braving the drizzle to join us.

We began with an engaging, animated story session from Debi at Swindon Story Shed whose expressive storytelling captured the imagination of the children right from the start. Then Neil Pullen from Wiltshire Wildlife Trust led a guided walk through the park sharing his expert knowledge of bats and the landscape pitched perfectly for both children and adults.

Using bat monitors (handheld devices that convert high-frequency echolocation into audible sounds) we picked up pipistrelle calls and saw bats skimming across the lake. Some very excited children (including mine!) left asking for their own bat monitors a sign of real curiosity sparked.

I joined fellow Cllrs, Cllr Steve Heyes, Cllr Vinay Manro, and Cllr Leigh Jackson, along with Cllr Jake Chandler from St Andrews Parish Council – a lovely example of neighbouring parishes coming together to support community events.

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is stepping up efforts to protect bats through habitat improvements and long-term monitoring. With climate change threatening their survival, your support can help make a real difference. Learn more and donate: bit.ly/battyfuture