Volunteers in Glastonbury came together on Sunday, March 23, to plant trees and create a dark corridor for bats at the historic Baily’s Buildings site. This initiative forms part of the wider regeneration project for the derelict Grade II listed site, which aims to provide space for local businesses, educational groups, and community activities.
The site, which has been unused since the 1980s, now serves as a haven for wildlife, including nine species of bat and numerous nesting birds. As part of the Beckery Island Regeneration Trust’s efforts, the renovation of Building West is being supported by a £6.3m grant from the Glastonbury Town Deal. The first phase of the renovation is scheduled for completion by March 2026.
The recent tree-planting activity involved creating a natural dark corridor along the western bank of Mill Stream. This corridor will aid bats in their movement from newly installed loft roosts along the stream into the wider landscape, supporting their long-term survival.
Ecological surveys for the project were conducted by Geckoella, with a representative noting the importance of creating habitat within the development project. Ian Tucker, chair of BIRT, expressed gratitude to the volunteers and emphasized the project’s significance in demonstrating how people and wildlife can coexist within a large development project.
The initiative received support from the Glastonbury Conservation Society, which donated the plants for the community tree planting day. Dr. Lynne Sedgmore CBE, chair of the Glastonbury Town Deal Board, acknowledged the volunteers' contributions and their impact on the revitalization of Baily’s Buildings.
Once a manufactory for sheepskin products and sporting goods, the Baily’s Buildings site has historical significance, having produced boxing gloves worn by prominent figures such as Henry Cooper and Muhammad Ali. The broader Glastonbury Town Deal, backed by the UK Government’s funding, aims to deliver regeneration, skills development, infrastructure, and cultural enrichment across the town by March 2026.