An East Leake manufacturing company has installed homes for bats as part of the 30 Days Wild challenge. British Gypsum has worked in collaboration with Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust to build a bat box and four bat bricks at its headquarters.
An old brick building has also been made into a bat hotel in the nearby Bunny Old Wood and the public was called on to give it a name. It comes after the launch of the 30 Day Wild challenge which encourages people to do something with wildlife each day in June.
In 2021, a competition was launched to name the new bat hotel. Out of many entrants, a class at East Leake Day Nursery was announced as the winner. British Gypsum felt the children’s suggestion, ‘The Upside Down Hotel’, was a perfect fit for the project.
Read more: Get involved with 30 Days Wild this June - the UK's biggest nature challenge
To help celebrate 30 Days Wild, the new bat hotel was officially opened with its new name and sign with staff from British Gypsum and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. Jeremy Elvins, British Gypsum’s estates manager, said “We were thrilled with the number of entries we had for the competition.
"It was great to see how many people got creative and decided to have a go at naming our new hotel. We are very grateful for everyone’s efforts, and it was difficult to choose; however, we felt that East Leake Day Nursery proposed the perfect name, and the fact all the children agreed on it was a bonus!”
British Gypsum has a rich history of commitment when it comes to supporting wildlife and biodiversity and its relationship with Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust dates all the way back to 1983, when the plaster manufacturer sold Bunny Old Wood to the conservation charity for just one penny.
Bunny Old Wood itself has stood tall since ancient times and was even mentioned in the Domesday Book. The woodland is renowned for its diverse wildlife, which now extends to the nocturnal winged guests hoping to frequent The Upside Down Hotel.
To launch the bat hotel’s conversion, the new information sign has been installed for 30 Days Wild - which provides information about both the wood and what bats are hoped will frequent the ‘The Upside Down Hotel’ – helping guests and bat enthusiasts alike to help spot the woodland’s latest wildlife habitat.
