Slebech Stable Yard Loft, Cellars & Tunnels

Also within

Dyfed County Arfordir Penfro / Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

Climate exposure

This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.

Geology & landscape

Landscape processes: Coastal

Description

Description Slebech stable yard loft is one of two known breeding sites for the greater horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum in Wales. The greater horseshoe has a predominantly southern Palaearctic distribution, and the Slebech site is the most northerly regular breeding location known in Europe. The British population has suffered a severe decline (thought to be up to 90%) in the past 20 years. The loft is a subsidiary breeding roost to the main one at Stackpole. The adjacent tunnels and cellars provide an important hibernation roost from October to April each year. The breeding colony of greater horseshoes was first discovered at Slebech in the stable yard loft in 1982, but there had been reports of bats hanging in the outbuildings about the time of the Second World War. The loft consists of two inter-connected chambers, one being used for access by the bats and the other for breeding. The colony appears to be a well established breeding group, with a maximum of 45 adult bats recorded in 1983. Between 1983 and 1985, 25-29 young were successfully reared each year, compared with 50-61 for the same period at Stackpole. In 1982 and 1983 movement of adults and young from Stackpole to Slebech was recorded, confirming the inter-dependence of the two sites. The relatively sheltered environs at Slebech and the well-wooded pastoral landscape of the upper reaches of the tidal Eastern Cleddau ensure an abundance of large insects (the bats’ prey species) for much of the year. The low, stone-lined, tunnels (about 60 metres, 200 feet long) between the foreshore of the Eastern Cleddau and Slebech House have been known as hibernating sites for small numbers of greater horseshoe bats since 1974. Two connected cellars at the house end of the main tunnel are the favourite hibernating site for the greater horseshoe. The tunnels have also been used by other bat species for hibernation. Lesser horseshoes Rhinolophus hipposideros are the most numerous, the highest count being 13 during a November visit. A separate, very short tunnel by the foreshore is particularly used by lesser horseshoes, with 9 present on one occasion. Natterer’s bats Myotis nattereri hibernate in the tunnel during mid-winter. Lesser horseshoe bats, pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus and brown long-eared bats Plecotus auritus have been found in the breeding loft, and whiskered bat Myotis mystacinus in the adjacent access loft. Remarks: The sites lies within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

Species mentioned