‘Batsworth House’ in New Conservation Scheme at Chatsworth

A new conservation project at Chatsworth has seen it dubbed ‘Batsworth House’ as it aims to protect and restore the local habitat of hundreds of bats including endangered species.

The ‘Batsworth’ nickname came from conservation team at the Derbyshire estate of the Duke of Devonshire as they created a new home for the area’s bat colony to reduce the disturbance caused by the reopening of the historic Burntwood Quarry to provide new stone for conservation work on the grade 1 listed Chatsworth House.

Made out of excavated sand stone, the bat house features 4-metre deep cellars and a roof space, which will provide cool rooms for the bats to retreat to in hot or cold weather, along with seven bat boxes placed around the quarry perimeter. ‘Batsworth’ will aid the preservation of the local bat population which includes the Common and Soprano Pipstrille, as well as the Brown Long-Eared, Whiskered, Daubenton and Natterer bat.

Sean Doxey, Head of Special Projects at Chatsworth, said: “We do a lot of conservation work around the estate to keep the landscape and its wildlife in the best possible condition for the many thousands of visitors that come here. The bat house will provide a new home for the hundreds of bats that have made Burntwood Quarry their home in the hundred years or so since it was closed."

The reopened site will have almost 30,000 tonnes of new stone removed from a section of the existing quarry face to support heritage repairs to Chatsworth House, stable block and surrounding buildings. The quarry, which has not been used since the early 1900s, was the original source of the Ashover gritstone used to build Chatsworth in 1687.

The Peak District National Park Authority approved plans to reopen Burntwood Quarry last November after agreeing that small scale quarrying of local stone for use on the nationally important Chatsworth House was in the public interest.

Chatsworth chosen as ‘UK coach destination of the year’

Emma Handley & Harriet receive UK Coach Award April13

The UK coach industry has awarded Chatsworth its highest accolade by naming the Peak District country estate as ‘UK coach destination of the year’.

At the UK Coach Awards on Saturday 20 April, Chatsworth won the award for ‘Most coach friendly historic attraction’. As one of four category winners for coach-friendliness amongst local authorities, historic attractions, visitor attractions and shopping attractions, Chatsworth was put forward for the overall award.

Chatsworth was chosen as the ‘UK Coach Destination of the Year’ for offering the warmest welcome to coaches and their passengers. The estate’s efforts to accommodate group travel greatly impressed the judges who noted a popular meet and greet service; a high quality welcome for coach drivers; and a high standard of catering amongst the factors in their decision.

Paul Hayes, Visitor Services Manager at Chatsworth said: “We make a lot of effort with coach parties including both a welcome and farewell talk from our team, great group deals, free parking, special tours and a lot more so we’re delighted to have been recognised with this award.

“We don’t forget the drivers either. They are made very welcome in a dedicated rest-room equipped with comfortable seating and television. Every coach driver is given a voucher for food during their visit and they get free admission to the house and garden.”

Held at Alton Towers resort and hosted by BBC Breakfast's Carol Kirkwood, the awards were presented by Malcolm Robson, President of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, in front of more than 300 key players in the coaching and coach tourism industry.

The UK Coach Awards are designed to recognise and reward quality and success in the UK coach and coach tourism industry. Coach companies are asked to nominate attractions, local authorities and industry suppliers as well as service providers and manufacturers.

The awards are owned and run by the UK Coach Awards Limited. This is an independent not-for-dividend company especially set up to own and run the awards for the benefit of the coaching and coach tourism industry.