NOCTURNAL nature lovers met the residents of a Ruthin heritage site during a public event there.

Denbighshire County Council’s Biodiversity Team helped unlock the night-time routines of Nantclwyd y Dre’s bat residents during a public event at the house.

As part of the council’s “Wildflower Week”, a bat walk night was held at the heritage site to allow the public to experience the mammals coming to life as the light goes down.

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The Grade I listed house is home to “lesser horseshoe”, brown long-eared brown” and “pipistrelle” bats, and has a unique “batcam” for people to watch them in action when the house is open.

Bat detectors and night vision equipment helped the group spot and track the animals in the darkness during the event.

Joel Walley, ecology officer, helped lead the group through the night to explore the hustle and bustle of the bat’s busy nights.

He said: “It was great to take the group around this fantastic heritage site in Ruthin which is home to a very strong population of bats.

“The engagement and interest in the animal’s habits was brilliant and I hope the experience has helped them really get to grips with how all our bat species in the UK navigate life after dark.”

Kate Thomson, manager of Nantclwyd y Dre, said: “Visitors to the house and garden can see our maternity roost of bats live through the bat cameras in the attic spaces.

“They are surprisingly active even in the daytime as they have their babies and rear them here at Nantclwyd.

“The extensive gardens are full of flowers providing the moths and insects the bats need to feed on! The house and gardens are open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays between 11am and 5pm.”

Cllr Barry Mellor, lead member for environment and transport, and the council’s biodiversity champion, said: “Nantclywd y Dre is a fantastic place for learning about history in Denbighshire and also a very important place for protecting local biodiversity.

“I am really pleased that members of the public have experienced how the team at the house go the extra mile to protect its many bat residents.”