fbpx

Bath BID’s Biodiversity Bench Project

Biodiversity Benches Project
Each animal has been carefully handpainted by the Bath BID’s very own Miriam Zaccarelli

Inspired by Britain in Bloom and the Festival of Nature, we are delighted to be running the Bath BID’s Biodiversity Bench Project! Join in on the Summer Sundays activities by exploring the benches surrounding Bath Abbey, which will be brought to life with decorations of animals that all call Bath home!

We are incredibly fortunate to have a diverse range of habitats, from rare wildflower meadows, Iron Age hill forts, ancient bluebell woodlands and thriving urban wildlife in Bath. Each of these habitats supports species from hedgehogs, dormice and butterflies, to peregrine falcons that fly overhead. So why not celebrate them?

There are 21 animals to find scattered all over the benches! Will you be able to find them all? Make sure to look at all sides of the bench or you might miss one!

Keep your eyes peeled as you might even see some of our animals in other locations around the city like Broad Street Community Garden.

The Wylde Creatures of Bath Trail
Kingfisher
A colourful bird of rivers and streams. It can be spotted sitting quietly on low-hanging branches over the water, suddenly diving in to catch a small fish. Kingfishers live in burrow-like nests near lakes and other waterways, choosing a perfect spot for fishing!
White-tailed Bumblebee
A very common bumble bee that emerges early in the spring and can be seen feeding on flowers right through to the autumn. It can be found in gardens, farmland, woodland edges, hedgerows and heathland: anywhere there are flowers to feed on.
Chalkhill Blue Butterfly
Favourite of The Festival of Nature! As its common name suggests, the Chalkhill blue is found on chalk grasslands in southern England. It is on the wing from July to September. The blue males are most conspicuous as they fly around searching for the more secretive, brown females.
Red Fox
Our only wild member of the dog family. They are not fussy eaters and will happily munch on small mammals, birds, frogs, worms as well as berries and fruit! A male fox, called a dog makes a barking noise whereas the females, called vixens make a spine-chilling scream sound.
Mallard Duck
The most familiar of all the dabbling ducks, found right across Europe, Asia and North America. They have also been introduced to South Africa and Australia.
Grey Squirrel
They are renowned for their agility, adept climbing and cunning – they can crack open bird feeders and run along tight-rope washing lines to get at their nutty prize.
Peregrine Falcon
The biggest falcon in the South West, it has found some unusual nest sites, including St John’s Evangelist’s Church! You can watch them here: https://hawkandowltrust.org/live-cameras/bath-peregrines
Mute Swan
The mute swan is one of the most familiar birds in the UK, its long, curved neck and graceful glide a regular sight on our waterways and waterbodies. Mute swans feed on plants, particularly waterweed. They usually mate for life, but some will have numerous partners.
Greater Horseshoe Bat
Formerly a cave-dweller, the greater horseshoe bat now tends to roost in old houses, churches and barns. All UK bats are nocturnal, feeding on midges, moths and other flying insects that they find in the dark by using echolocation.
7-spot Ladybird
Found in gardens and parks – or anywhere there are aphids for it to feed on. Adults hibernate in hollow plant stems, sometimes clustering together in a large group. The bright colours of ladybirds warn predators that they taste horrible, although some birds will still have a go!
Great Crested Newt
Newts are amphibians, breeding in ponds during the spring and spending most of the rest of the year feeding on invertebrates in woodland, hedgerows, marshes and tussocky grassland. They hibernate underground, among tree roots and in old walls. The UK’s populations of the great crested newt are internationally important.
Rose Chafer
A large, broad beetle that is found in grassland, scrub and along woodland edges. The adults feed on flowers, particularly dog roses, during the summer and autumn, and can be spotted in warm, sunny weather. The larvae feed on decaying leaves, plants and roots, living in the soil for several years as they develop.
Robin
One of the most familiar birds of the UK, regularly visiting gardens. Robins are also common in parks, scrub and woodland, making their presence known with a loud, territorial song. They sing from prominent perches right through the winter.
Common Frog
Breed in ponds during the spring and spending much of the rest of the year feeding in woodland, gardens, hedgerows and tussocky grassland. They are familiar inhabitants of garden ponds, where they lay their eggs in big ‘rafts’ of spawn. They feed on a variety of invertebrates and even smaller amphibians.
Brown-Lipped Snail
A common terrestrial (land) snail in the UK. Aside from the dark brown banding around the opening of its shell, the colour of the shell can vary greatly between snails, from very light to very dark. This polymorphism is thought to be help camouflage it.
Barn Owl
Perhaps our most familiar owl, the barn owl will sometimes hunt in the daytime and can be seen ‘quartering’ over farmland and grassland looking for its next small-mammal meal. However, it is perfectly adapted to hunt with deadly precision in the dark of night.
European Otter
One of our top predators, feeding mainly on fish (particularly eels and salmonids), waterbirds, amphibians and crustaceans. Otters have their cubs in underground burrows, known as ‘holts’. Excellent and lithe swimmers, the young are in the water by 10 weeks of age.
Blue Tit
Smaller than the great tit, the blue tit is also a bird of woodland, parks and gardens. It nests in holes in trees, but is just as happy to use nestboxes. Blue tits are active feeders, hunting out insects and spiders among the smaller branches and leaves of trees in woodlands.
Bream
A medium-sized fish and a member of the carp family, so displays the typical carp shape. It is a bottom-feeding fish that preys on worms, snails and pea mussels. It lives in large ponds, lakes and slow-moving rivers where it congregates in quite large shoals.
Emperor Dragonfly
A very large, impressive dragonfly that is on the wing from June to August. It is a common species of large ponds and lakes, as well as canals and ditches, but is rarely found away from water. One of the largest dragonfly species in Europe, the emperor dragonfly flies up high to look for insect-prey, such as butterflies and chaser dragonflies. It catches its prey in mid-air and may eat it on the wing.
Roe Deer
A common native deer, the roe deer tends to be solitary in summer, but forms small, loose groups in winter. The males have relatively short antlers, typically with three points. They begin to grow their antlers in November, shedding the velvet from them in the spring. By summer, they are ready for the rutting season. After mating, they shed their antlers in October and begin to grow a new set.

Broad Street Community Garden

Discover the following animals on plant pots in Broad Street Community Garden:

Hazel Dormouse
Barely ever seen due to the fact they spend most of the day asleep! At night they come alive, climbing high into the trees on the hunt for a tasty snack. Their favourite foods are hazelnuts, berries and insects.
Brimstone Butterfly
A fairly large, pale yellow butterfly, with distinctive, leaf-shaped wings. Adults hibernate through cold weather, so may be seen flying on warm days throughout the year, although they are most common in the spring.
European Hedgehog
Round, brown and famously covered in spines, the hedgehog is the UK’s most familiar wild animal. They can be spotted in parks and gardens where bushes provide the perfect daytime getaway! They love long grass full of insects to feast on once the sun has set.

Find out more about Bath BID’s work for Britain in Bloom