Since 2012, the congregation and vicar have been working with the North Yorkshire Bat Group to learn more about the resident bat colony in St. Andrew’s Church, Grinton. We have been doing a monthly bat count, which helps to monitor the health of the roost, and there have been events, talks, crafts and information, to help local people and visitors to appreciate and learn more about these amazing creatures.

The Church of England recently launched a national ‘Bats in Churches’ project, and the team was very pleased to hear about all the work that has happened in Swaledale. Their role is to encourage churches to do all the things that we have been doing already!  The Director of this project and one of her staff are coming to visit us on 7 August, to look around the church, hear about what we have been doing, and to take part in the bat count.

BAT EVENT - On International Bat Day, 24 August, there will be batty themed crafts with refreshments from 7pm, and the bat count will start at dusk, around 8.20pm that evening. Please come and join us.