Bats are back

Bats have been seen in Conisbrough.

In his 20 years as vicar, the rev. G. F. Braithwaite had never seen one in the village – until recently, when he spotted a tiny pipistrelle bat circling at dusk in the vicarage yard.

There are a dozen different species in this country says Mr. Braithwaite, but possibly only three of these are to be found in this area. In the September edition the parish magazine, the vicar writes, “in 20 years I have never seen one here before. Possibly they are based on the castle, or maybe under the eaves of our own house or perhaps in the church tower”.

Mr. Braithwaite suggested bats may have taken the place of pigeons which lived in the church tower until five or six years ago. . . So perhaps there are bats in the belfry after all.