Pentacle going Batty about Bats

Pentacle Magazine, the UK's largest independent pagan magazine, as chosen the Bat Conservation Trust as its ‘Charity of the Year for 2003. The Magazine will be supporting The BCT through magazine articles and promotions, a featured stall at the Halloween Bash, a large Pagan Festival in London

Pentacle Magazine is an independent publication for Pagans of all paths. It has a strong environmental and Archaeological stance as well as providing insight into many wide and varied aspects of Pagan life.
Known for its high standard of articles and art work is it run totally by volunteers on a non profit making basis. Pentacle has the highest circulation of an independent Pagan magazine in the UK, sold in over 200 outlets, it reaches nearly 12,000 Pagans and has had to increase its print run every single issue.

Our Magazine has chosen the Bat Conservation Trust as its ‘Charity of the Year for 2003. The Magazine will be supporting The BCT through magazine articles and promotions, a featured stall at the Halloween Bash, a large Pagan Festival in London and organised events such as a Bat-Trek in late September. (see website for details) There are sixteen species of bat living in Britain, all surviving on a diet of only insects. They have wing spans ranging from 19 to 35cm and can live up to 30 years. The most common of these is the tiny pipistrelle which weighs about the same as a two pence piece (5 grams) and is only 3 - 4 cm long. Sadly all species of bat in the UK have experienced a severe decline in numbers in the past one hundred years, 6 species are Endangered or Rare and 6 others are considered Vulnerable.

Often very misunderstood, they are blamed for many things from Rabies to Vampirism, bats have actually been present on the earth for 50 million years. In fact, just under a quarter of all mammal species on the planet are bats! Some of the more common misconceptions about bats are easily dispelled. For example, although bats do have poor eyesight, they are not in fact blind and using an advanced system of echolocation, they are extremely manoeuvrable in the dark. Bats rarely carry rabies, certainly no more than any other species and they are most often found living in fairly modern houses, none of this crumbly castle rubbish for our twentieth century friends! If bats are found roosting in your house, it is illegal to disturb either them or their roosts, contact an organisation like the Bat Preservation Society or your local branch of the RSPCA and they will handle the situation or put you in contact with the correct authorities.

The Bat Conservation Trust.

The Bat Conservation Trust is the only organisation solely devoted to the conservation of bats and their habitats in the British Isles. It is a highly respected and established organisation combining the strengths of professionals and amateur experts. It supports a network of over 90 voluntary Bat Groups and Runs the National bat Monitoring Programme - the first programme of its kind to monitor bats on such a large scale. It Operates a dedicated national Bat Helpline which supports and provides information to people who find bats in their property as well as actively campaigning for stronger measures for the protection of bats and for effective implementation.

So where do we come in to all this you might be asking, well so far at Pentacle we have raised around 150 through our online bookstore and through sales and donations at our stall at this years Beltaine Bash
in Conway Hall, London. But the bats still need help. Donations can be made to pentacle magazine at: Pentacle Magazine, 78 Hamlet rd, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS1 1HH. (Cheques made payable to 'Pentacle' ),
online by clicking the donate to bats link or simply check out our online bookstore ‘Shopping Arcadia where you not only get a whopping 20% discount on our extensive range of pagan books, but we also make a
donation to The Bat Conservation Trust for every purchase. Alternatively, come along to our stall at the Halloween bash again in Conway Hall, later this year and have a look at all of our lovely information on our furry, flying friends.

If you are interested in learning more about these fascinating animals, there will be a number of Walks happening over the August Bank Holiday weekend. there are walks in London, Wales, Essex, Hertfordshire and
other places, so check out http://www.bats.org.uk for information about your local Bat Group.

For further information contact: The Bat Conservation Trust 15 Cloisters House 8 Battersea Park Road London SW8 4BG Tel: 020 7627 2629
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