BEAUTIFUL Golden Cap isn't just a joy for walkers and visitors.

The Jurassic coastline landmark is also a haven for extremely rare bats, a new survey has discovered.

Surveys by National Trust ecologists and volunteers have found that the area is used by 13 out of Britain’s 18 bat species, including some which are under threat and in decline. Researchers found of Bechstein’s bats, grey long eared, barbastelle, and greater and lesser horseshoe bats.

Ecology Officer, Gemma Baron, said the team had been 'very excited' to find evidence of a grey long-eared bat, one of the rarest UK species, and to be able to tag five Bechstein's bats, which unusually live in trees. There are thought to be just 1,500 Bechstein bats in the UK as a whole.

She explained why Golden Cap was such a valuable bat area."It's carefully managed by the Trust and their farm tenants and there is a fantastic patchwork of habitats found here. Grassland, woodland and scrub provide great foraging habitats, and are connected by an extensive network of old, traditionally managed hedgerows and small lanes, which bats use to navigate."

She said old trees with natural holes and cracks, and old farm buildings also provided a range of roosting sites. "Because of the low-intensity way the area is farmed and looked after, there are plenty of invertebrates for bats to eat."

The National Trust says there has been a widespread decline in bat species in Britain in the last century and they are now working to ensure their buildings and countryside sites are bat and wildlife friendly.