INTRODUCING THE DOWNGATE BATMAN

INTRODUCING  THE DOWNGATE BATMAN

Have a look at the link:

https://downgatebatman.blogspot.com

A leading bat-worker in the south West, not exactly known for his tact, said recently to Tony, “You’re up against stiff opposition so don’t expect to get anywhere. I was nominated twice and didn’t get it.”

He was referring to the 2020 Bat Conservation Trust’s annual award for outstanding contribution to the bat world.

Tony, to his astonishment, had been nominated!

The text of the nomination is as follows:

From Paul Diamond Cornwall Bat Group .

What can I say about Tony Atkinson? I’ve known Tony for over 12 years and surveyed with him on many occasions over this time, his knowledge, commitment and desire to pass on his knowledge is absolutely inspiring. Tony is the ‘bat man’ for southeast Cornwall and his been a pivotal figure within Cornwall Bat Group for many, many moons. I understand that Tony has been an ever present member of the Cornwall Bat group Committee since the late 1980’s .

 Tony’s involvement with bats extends back to the 1950’s (around 65 years ago) when he worked with John Hooper to ring Greater Horseshoe bats ostensibly to monitor their movements and determine whether bats on Dartmoor were the same bats as those in Torbay (which they are) and which co-incidentally revealed that the life span of this species can exceed 30 years.

Tony has been involved in a bat box check scheme for over 25 years and surveying for the National Bat Monitoring Programme (NBMP) for over 20 years. During the summer months counting Horseshoes, Brown long-eared, Common Pips and Daubenton’s, and going underground into mines and adits in the somewhat less pleasant months of January and February to count Horseshoes and any other bats which turn up from time to time. All of the above require at least two survey visits per season, with some requiring three – this is an incredible level of commitment for anyone, perhaps more so when you realise Tony is 85 years young.

My first underground hibernation survey with Tony was around ten years ago and I distinctly remember Tony apologising to the group in advance as it was likely, that being in his 70’s, he would hold us up during the survey as we walked from cars to hibernation sites and back – In fact Tony became the target to keep up with, as he always seemed to be striding out in front! I also discovered during the day that Tony is so much more than just a ‘bat man’, he is an all-round naturalist with interests across all of the Natural World, not to mention industrial archaeology as he explained how various features in the landscape were created and how biodiversity had taken over and thrived on some of the neglect.

I would also like to briefly mention Tony’s wife Mary. Mary is a remarkable naturalist in her own right, being an exceptional botanist and a top-drawer lepidopterist. In fact, whilst Tony is undertaking bat counts, Mary can often be found just around the corner with her moth trap catching and recording the Lepidoptera in the vicinity too. They are a formidable team who can often be seen holding hands and not just to stop each other falling over! In addition to Tony’s monitoring and recording work, Tony has led innumerable ‘bat walks –n-talks’ over a great many years. He has given presentations on bats and their role within the ecosystem to diverse audiences across the county and acted as trainer and mentor to many aspiring ecologists, myself included. If the above are not sufficient reasons for people to agree that Tony thoroughly deserves the recognition that a Pete Guest award bestows and vote accordingly, I would like to add that Tony is also one of the longest serving Natural England -Volunteer Bat Roost Visitor (VBRV) in the County. When I informed Tony that I was intending to nominate him for the Pete Guest Award, his  response  was that he did not consider that he had done enough to warrant such an award , and that I think, tells you the measure of the man – 65 years working with bats, 85 years of age and still thinks he has not done enough… His energy and enthusiasm for all living things sets him apart from many in our industry. He not only cares about the natural world and the challenges it is facing due to human actions, but also cares very much about people making sure everyone feels included, humbly sharing his vast knowledge, whilst in partnership with his wife Mary he feeds anyone that has forgotten their lunch. Talk to an ecologist in the area and they will all have a story about Tony. His non-nonsense attitude, his enthusiasm, but probably most of all his kindness, giving his time freely to a wide range of activities and providing the driving force for so much conservation work. In short, the world would be a much better place with more Tony Atkinsons and I know of nobody more deserving of winning the Pete Guest Award than Tony, a man who I am proud to call a friend.

Inspection of bat box

 

Annual Autumn bat walk an' talk.

 

Training session for bat-work volunteers.

 

 

 

Putting up a new design of bat box.

 PS from the batman’s other half:

Don’t call me Robin, but, as the other half of downgatebatman, I’ll also mention that for about twenty years Tony was on the other end of the phone for the national Bat Help-Line. This resulted in many calls in the week, particularly in the summer season when young bats tend to get lost and come into closer contact with a disconcerted public. This called for comfort, support, advice, calming, and quite often needed a visit to rescue bats in trouble and pour oil on ruffled feathers, to mix my metaphors.

We have had calls from Edinburgh, South Wales and even from Holland; 3.15 one night saw him rescuing a bat from a back room of a ward in Derriford Hospital. All this, not that it ever occurred to him, was unheralded, unsung, and without a petrol allowance! But it all made trying to fit a couple of weeks’ summer holiday in, somewhat problematical.

Aug.'20 the work continues...