(pic from here)

Join Airfield Dundrum this August for a dining experience like no other. Visitors to Overends restaurant on August 8th, 15th and 22nd can enjoy a two or three course meal at Overends restaurant followed by after dinner entertainment with a difference and a special wildlife twist; a walking tour through the estate to learn about some of Airfield’s less well known inhabitants, curious little beasts who take to the air around the estate each night around the time most of us are getting ready for bed … bats.

 

The sheep, cows, pigs, goats and hens might be the animals that provide the most entertainment to Airfield visitors during the day but bats are also some of our favourite and most useful inhabitants. Very few of us are aware of their presence and even fewer of us will be going out of our way to look for them – bats. These animals are amazing navigators and fascinating members of our native Irish fauna. This August Airfield celebrates the aerial acrobats with a dinner and walking tour package. Enjoy a two or three course meal at Overends restaurant (€30 and €36 respectively), available to book from 6pm, followed by a walking tour at 9pm with Paul Scott of Bat Conservation Ireland. Airfield will make a donation to Bat Conservation Ireland on visitors’ behalf.

(image via here)

Held late in the evening when the estate is normally closed to the public, a lucky few will be guided by Paul through the food gardens over to the wild pond which provides a smorgasbord of insects for the local bat population to feed on. Standing on the boardwalk across the pond will be like watching bats from their dining table. Visitors are likely to see the Leisler’s bat, Ireland’s largest bat and the early riser in the bat world; it emerges as soon as the sun goes down and can be seen swooping down to catch insects from up to 30m up in the air. Next up is the Soprano Pipistrelle bat which feed on thousands of midges and mosquitoes every night, and so small it could sit on the end of your thumb.

‘Sup, Common Pipistrell?

(pic via here)

The Common Pipistrelle will join the rest of the bats foraging over the pond and the aptly-named Brown Long-eared bat, with enormous long ears and surprisingly large black eyes, is a regular visitor to woods and hedgerows in suburbs.

Look at the little face!

(pic via here)

Airfield is a great place for bats due to the range of woodland, water and grassland that is found on the estate. Bats thrive where there are dark, undisturbed areas with lots of insect life, exactly what Airfield provides after dark. So when you next tuck into the home-grown peas, cabbages, carrots or beetroot, think of the Airfield bats that stopped the pesky flies from eating it first!

(pic via here)

To reserve a place on the Bat Walk & Dinner package please call Overends restaurant on 01 969 6666.

For further information log onto http://www.airfield.ie or follow Airfield @airfielddundrum or https://www.facebook.com/airfielddublin