Bats where they belong
Sir: Max Hastings is correct to draw atten- tion to the profligate manner in which the RSPCA spends money given to them for worthier purposes (Diary, 7 August). A short while ago I too answered a knock on my door only to find a storm-trooper dressed in RSPCA regalia standing there. His complaint arose from a report that we had bats incarcerated in our house.
Now we have colonies of pipistrelle bats, horseshoe bats and even long-eared bats. It crossed my mind I might have a fourth vari- ety right on my doorstep. I asked for details but of course that was confidential; he also seemed uncertain as to where the poor creatures were supposed to be.
The Abbey is a large house; we have monastic dormitories, cloister garths and many old barn-like roofs, but it is hard to imagine a bat being stuck in any of these places. We wandered around rather aim- lessly, looking, perhaps, for little faces pressed to some long-forgotten window, but all to no avail.
At last I suggested, in a most friendly way, that he might have a good look in the belfry.
He gave me a dirty look and left.
Mark Roper
Forde Abbey, Chard, Somerset
Previous page
