Horringer Court Caves

Also within

Suffolk County

Condition (Natural England)

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Chalk

Description

Description This site contains a series of inter connected chalk mines totalling over 500 metres in length. There are five grilled entrances leading off chalk pits excavated in the ground. These 'caves' are important for various species of bat which hibernate in the tunnels from September to April each winter. The bat population has been the object of detailed research into several aspects of bat ecology and has been continuously monitored since 1947. The locality is hence of exceptional scientific interest. The bat hibernaculum is used principally by Daubenton's bat Myotis daubentonii and Natterer's bat M. nattereri but Whiskered bat Myotis mystacinus, Brandt's bat M. brandti and brown long eared bat Plecotus auritus occur occasionally. The very rare Barbastelle bat Barbastella barbastellus has been recorded eight times in 36 years. Grounds surrounding the quarries are densely wooded with beech, elm, oak, sycamore, sweet chestnut and Scot's pine. Ground cover is dominated by ivy, ground ivy and grasses. There are open glades of coarse grassland within the wood. The woods and glades influence the micro climate within the bat caves and are hence an integral part of the interest of the site. They also provide a source of food and sheltered feeding areas especially for those bats that move into the caves early in the autumn.

Species mentioned