WARMER weather has seen the beginning of the return of rare bats to the historic Woodchester Mansion although it may be proving too hot for some of the visitors.

Following a winter spent hibernating in nearby caves, the bats are now available to see during nocturnal walks held at the building.

Its first evening bat walk took place earlier this month and proved a big hit with further walks planned for July 14, August 11 and September 8.

“We got off to a slow start in that there were few Greater Horseshoes on parade,” said volunteer Ray Canham of the first event. “Anyway the Lessers rescued the evening and they gave us a good flying display in the back corridor.”

Participants of the first walk were also treated to a talk from Gloucestershire Bat Group member Graeme McLaren, watched the bats live on CCTV in the mansion’s observatory, and were provided with bat detectors to help them locate the creatures as they left the building at dusk.

Expert Dr Roger Ransome, whose ongoing observation of bats at the mansion is considered to be probably the longest continuous bat study in the world, had earlier counted only 46 greater horseshoes roosting in the Mansion compared with peaks of around 100.

He has blamed the warm weather saying that it may have been too hot for many of the bats.

Dr Ransome, who began studying the Woodchester bats in 1959, expects that by the middle of the summer there will be about 450 lesser and 120 greater horseshoes present.

To find out more about the mansion's opening hours and the bat walks visit woodchestermansion.org.uk