A little rain certainly wasn’t enough to put off the 15 hardy people who joined us for our latest evening Bat Walk in Borsdane Wood!

Led by the wonderfully knowledgeable Jeff Gorse, the group ventured out into the Wood despite some decidedly damp conditions for an evening exploring the fascinating wildlife that can be found there after daylight begins to fade.

Unfortunately, the bats themselves proved rather elusive on this occasion, with the wet weather seemingly persuading them to keep a low profile. But there was still plenty to discover along the way.

Jeff shared a wealth of fascinating information about bats, fungi and the wider natural world, making the walk interesting and enjoyable even when our hoped-for flying residents declined to make much of an appearance.

Bat walks offer a very different way to experience Borsdane Wood. Familiar paths and trees take on another character as evening draws in, while the sounds, wildlife and atmosphere of the woodland begin to change around us. Even on a wet evening, there is always something new to notice and learn.

And judging by the feedback afterwards, the weather certainly didn’t spoil the evening. Several of those who joined us described the walk as interesting and informative, with one participant commenting that they had both enjoyed it despite the rain and lack of bat sightings.

Huge thanks once again to Jeff Gorse for giving his time, sharing his enthusiasm and passing on so much of his knowledge throughout the evening.

We are also very grateful to our volunteer Barbara, who stewarded the walk and helped everything run smoothly — getting rather wet in the process!

Most importantly, thank you to all 15 people who braved the rain and joined us. It was lovely to see everyone’s enthusiasm despite the conditions, and we’re delighted to hear that the evening was so well received.

Our next Bat Walk is planned for Thursday 24th September from 6.30pm. This walk is already fully booked, so please do not add any further names at the moment.

These walks have proved extremely popular and places can fill quickly, so if you would like to join us on a future walk, keep an eye on the Friends of Borsdane Wood & Rayner Park website and Facebook page, where new events will be announced.

Hopefully the bats, and perhaps the weather, will be a little more cooperative next time!