WHEN the West Radnor Community Haven group gathered for their meeting last week, they were greeted by a new member – although no-one had a clue he/she was coming.

When the group met at Crossgates Community Centre on Wednesday, October 13, the members were delighted to find they had an unusual visitor. In the committee room, used by the local community council and WI organisations, members found a long-eared brown bat flying around. “Perhaps it got the dates mixed up and arrived early for Hallowe’en,” said club member Les Nettleton.

Mat the Bat was safely freed into the evening skies when a local bat expert was called.

“Knowing that bats are protected and shouldn't be handled the Radnor Bat Group was contacted and the 'bat lady' came along to take the bat outside to be released in the evening.”

As a result of the surprise visit, the group have decided to take some action, with the secretary saying: “Perhaps we should take it as a sign that we should make a few bat boxes as they will be looking for winter roosting places now.”

This species of bat, they were told, has large ears in order to hear the incredible minute sounds of insects walking or munching on leaves, which they then catch and eat.

For more information on the West Radnor Community Haven – a local charity that endeavours to provide a safe place for the residents of west Radnorshire to meet together for talks and shared activities of benefit to local residents – email westradnorcommunityhaven@gmail.com.