A WILDLIFE initiative with roots in west Dorset is set to benefit from a government hand out.

'The Return of the Night Rider' project has received a grant of £69,000 from the Green Recovery Challenge Fund. The project, run by the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the Bat Conservation Trust, aims to preserve and protect the rare grey long eared bat - one of the rarest species of bat in the country.

The project focuses on the most prevalent areas inhabited by the species, including Lyme Regis, Charmouth and Uplyme, and organisers will be working closely with the Dorset AONB.

With as few as 1,000 grey long eared bats remaining in the UK, located in eight main maternity roosts spread across the south of England, the project organisers say immediate action is needed to prevent their extinction in the UK.

Carol Williams of the Bat Conservation Trust said: “We are hugely excited that this fund will enable us to continue our Back from the Brink work for the grey long eared bat at a time when the need for urgent action to reverse the decline in biodiversity has never been greater. Our partnership with East Devon AONB will also help us to develop talent within the sector and to educate, inspire and connect people with nature.”

Organisers hope that the project will bring environmental, social and economic benefits by; planting more flowers of 18 hectares of grassland to support a greater diversity of insects, which will in turn feed the bats, engaging with landowners and farmers for advice and ideas on how to best manage their land for the bats and talking to local people about the bats, the challenges that they face and the importance of florally rich grassland.

It will also include enhancing foraging and commuting routes, reversing the decline of wildflower meadows where these bats feed, and creating foundations believed to be vital for the long-term survival of the species.

The Green Recovery Challenge Fund will see the government hand out £80 million to 68 nature-based projects in 2021.

For more information, visit www.eastdevonaonb.org.uk/2020/12/10/protecting-the-grey-long-eared-bat