The show goes on, despite shoddy supplier

Mum on guard whilst cygnets relax by the boat house

No delivery of the vital supplies by TP again and once more Mike had to pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat with the help of Pat who kindly offered up some substitute material from his building store. Also included were some materials to allow me the chance of improving the construction of the 'bat cave' steps. So once more Morris, Mike and myself set to gathering together essential supplies & then loading the trailer prior to driving to the bat cave. Before setting off we had an interesting dialogue with a research student from Bristol University who was part of a team studying the impact on bat populations in the UK of increased artificial light within bat habitats {increased security lighting, more building lights, cars..}. It seems there is evidence suggesting that bats were having to travel ever further to avoid our artificial lights when hunting. As well as using up vital energy it also seems, as a consequence,  to reduce the time spent in nurturing their young. The researcher was with Mike's help looking at our local Bat status.  Current stats UK wide still show declining bat populations, the good news for Gloucestershire is that Bats seem to be doing better here. In particular the lesser horseshoe bat is under threat so Sherborne's success  wrt to lesser horseshoe bat is even more important. Not that we needed any more incentive to continue the work on their winter roost at the bat cave but it is nice to know it could be even more significant in the grand scheme of things.

I was relieved to escape to the relative cool of Sherborne brook at lunchtime as the morning was pretty hard going in the heat. The swan family were relaxing down by the boat house and all 3 herons were out and about with the juvenile favouring the safety of the large old oaks. No red kites today but one juvenile buzzard also perched at the top of an oak. I enjoyed a relaxing walk through the Pleasure Grounds on the way back to the bat cave and also the surprise of a couple of dog walkers as I pointed out the large metal bat hanging from the trees.

The afternoon soon passed by. Mike and Morris having done some good construction inside the bat cave and I had completed the critical improvements on the steps outside {'rises' now added to the top steps!}. No more materials left to continue without more supplies! and the next opportunity to proceed with the work is mid September, bat permitting.

Down by the Windrush in background, Water Meadows water management

Useful to note the progress on the major water management Project on the Windrush in the Water Meadows area. Sadly the water pump[s] won't operate given the lack of elevation in the water meadows but there is a plan B to use a solar powered pump so all is not lost. Most of the prep work is done so the contractors should be able to resume and complete the work quickly. However we will also be able to use the original pump{s} from the Northfield Barn, given its elevation,  to further improve water management . Add to this the work the Wildlife Trust will be doing on the Sherborne Brook again in the Water Meadows area and altogether this work when completed represents a Major step forward in conservation in the Sherborne estate.