THE caves and abandoned lead mine shafts of the Dales provide vital shelter to thousands of bats new research has discovered.

While it was previously thought that bats were fairly uncommon in this area, in fact of the 16 species of bat found in the country, six of them are happily living in all the caves around Craven. The findings were made after a five-year research programme by Leeds University.

Firstly, it was discovered that the disused lead mine shafts and natural caves all over the dales were used by all the species together during the winter months for hibernation and breeding.

During the spring and summer, the bats leave the caves and live in the wooded areas, where they feed and become part of the rural diversity.

More importantly, it was discovered just how many there are, with probably several thousand regularly inhabiting these quiet, dark areas.

The main species discovered in our caves were the whiskered, Brandt's, natterers, Daubentons and long-eared bats. The first three types are the most rare, with the long-eared variety being the most common.

But the research uncovered a sixth species, the noctule bat, which was not thought to inhabit caves. It is also the largest with a 40-centimetre wingspan and weighs in at 25 grammes. The others average between six and 12 grammes.

There are other species in the Dales, such as the pipistrelle, but they do not use caves, preferring buildings instead.

"These cave dwellers are remarkably tiny creatures and yet we have found out, through ringing some of them, that they can live anything up to 10 years," explained Professor John Altringham, who led the fact-finding mission.

The initial findings of the latest bat research, supported by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, has highlighted the importance of the national park as a home to the region's bat populations.

Dr Tim Thom, an ecologist at the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, said: "Until recently, it was believed that the caves and mineshafts of the area were little used by the area's bat populations, yet the latest research from the University of Leeds team is proving this to be very wrong."

The research is providing the national park authority with new information to feed into its Biodiversity Action Plan, a ten-year plan to protect and enhance the area's plant and animal life.

The results will help the authority draw up a Caves Habitat Action Plan, which will ensure that caves with a high biological importance are used and managed appropriately.

"The results will enable us to work with pothole clubs to draw up plans to help protect the area's bat populations and further develop voluntary codes of practice for the recreational use of caves and potholes," said Dr Thom.

Prof Altringham added: "All previous work in both the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors relied on visual surveys for roosting bats and only a few bats were ever found, with many sites appearing to have none at all.

"Our recent night-time surveys, using humane traps, bat detectors and night vision equipment, are painting a very different and more accurate picture, with tens, hundreds or even thousands of bats visiting roosting sites previously thought to be unimportant."

Bats go underground to mate and hibernate. Some travel 40 kilometres or more after dark to reach a cave and each one eats between 1,000 and 2,000 flying insects per night.

Prof Altringham has also dispelled the myths surrounding the animals. He said: "Bats are definitely not blind, in fact they have excellent eye sight. What's more, in the 15 years I have been researching them, not one has flown into my hair."

He added that it is only the past 100 years or so that they have been incorporated into myths and horror stories, with perhaps Bram Stoker, the creator of Count Dracula, who really gave the creatures a "bad press".