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Bats and The Crab and Winkle Line
Location: Kent
The Crab & Winkle Line, situated between Canterbury and Whitstable, was the first scheduled passenger steam railway in the World. The tunnel was also the World's first, and is recorded in the Guinness Book of Records. The line is now disused and the closed off tunnel is home to 3 species of bat: the most important being the "Natterer" bat.
The project aims to work with the community - particularly the students at The Archbishop's School (where the tunnel entrance is located) - to raise awareness about the bats and the history of the disused line.
The students will develop interpretative materials (leaflet, poster, fliers and a sculpture) and investigate the environmental conditions in the tunnel, which make it favourable to bats. They will also investigate the significance of the disused railway line as a linear landscape for feeding and foraging, and as a safe link for movement between feeding and roosting sites.
The group, with the assistance of the local community, will also organise practical tasks to clear the tunnel of rubbish, provide local talks and organise guided walks along the line - including the tunnel.
| Local Community Involvement / Partnerships: |
| Kent Bat Group (KBG), Crab & Winkle Line Trust, Bat Conservation Trust, Archbishop's CE Secondary School, English Nature, Canterbury City Council |
| Grants: |
Heritage Lottery Fund: £17,581
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