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Pipistrelle Bat by Eleanor Chaney

Dreaming of Rusland - Impressions of Wildlife (2020 - 2021)

This project is a collaboration with Ulverston based artist Eleanor Chaney who will draw seven unique images of fauna and flora you might find in the Rusland valley to encourage you to do the same.

In new project, launched in June 2020 at a time when many of us couldn't get out in the Rusland area as much as we'd have liked, we are posting seven unique images of local fauna and flora you might find specially drawn for us by Eleanor Chaney, local Ulverston artist. We will also post her worksheets and fascinating vidoes (see panel, right) to help anyone (of any age!) who would like to have a go at drawing our seven species as well as information and hints as to where you might find our little collection out and about in the valley.

All Eleanor's images are copyrighted. We will be delighted to see your creations in response to this collaboration but please only reproduce Eleanor's images for the purpose of this project. If you draw and would like to share, email them to hello@ruslandhorizonstrust.org. 

Images:
Pipistrelle Bat

So far so good...

Eleanor Chaney will produce drawings, worksheets and videos of 7 species you might find in the Rusland Valley. To download the worksheets, click on the links just below, or go to 'READ' at the bottom of this panel, where you can also see her beautiful videos under  'WATCH'.

Did you know?

  • The Hazel Dormouse is our only native dormouse; Cumbria is at the-northern most limit of their range in the UK. Once widespread in the South Lakes, they are now only recorded in a few locations
  • The Duke of Burgundy butterfly is a priority conservation species. In Cumbria it is found only in a few isolated colonies, some in the Rusland Valley.
  • The Swift is a medium-sized aerial bird that spends most of its time in the air, even sleeping on the wing. They have characteristic high pitched 'screaming' calls. Swifts are in steep decline. They pair for life and meet up at the same nest site in the UK each spring – usually in gaps under roof tiles and in the eaves of buildings. But as more and more old buildings are demolished or renovated, many swifts are returning to discover their nest site is gone. You can make or buy swift nest boxes which need to be installed high up under the eaves.
  • The Netted Carpet Moth is one of the UK's most endangered moths and it is one of the rarest moths in the country. It was first discovered near Lake Windermere, and it can only be found in specific sites in the Lake District and in North Wales. A member of the Geometridae family, research has shown that it’s caterpillars feed only on the delicate Touch-me-not balsam, which is also at risk due to invasive species. Because of this the moth nearly went extinct in the 80s and 90s, but due to extensive conservation efforts it has begun to recover.
  • Damselflies are predatory, aerial insects that are in the order Odonata. Damselflies are found mainly near shallow, freshwater habitats and are graceful fliers with slender bodies and long, filmy, net-veined wings. Damselflies are generally smaller, more delicate, and fly weakly in comparison with dragonflies (suborder Anisoptera). Their colours can be stunningly vivid. They appear to drift through the air, and they snatch their prey from vegetation. They rest with their wings folded lengthways along their body. The example drawn is the Common Blue Damselfly which is a lovely sight in Summer in the UK. 
  • The Pipistrelle Bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) is the most common bat in the UK, and is also the smallest at about 4cm long with a wingspan of only 20cm. These tiny bats can be recognised by their reddish-brown coats, with their wings, ears and face being black.
    Like all UK bats they are nocturnal, sleeping during the day and then coming out at night to feed. They hunt insects including moths, lace wings and gnats, and are able to eat thousands in just one night. They are extremely fast fliers, with estimates that they can fly seven metres per second.

Media

© Rusland Horizons 2017 - 2025. All rights reserved.
Rusland Horizons was a Landscape Partnership funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund until July 2019. It is now being delivered by The Rusland Horizons Trust Limited. Company No. 2133450; Charity No. 519410; Registered Office: Pipistrel House, Finsthwaite Lane, Backbarrow, Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 8QD.

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