The Quality Sign Land of the Horseshoe Bat for the institutions deeply involved in bat conservation, received the Muzeum Przyrodnicze im. Krystyny i Włodzimierza Tomków from Ciężkowice. For multiple years, The Museum organised exhibitions and educational events about bats, stipulated local bat conservation activities, including help in raising fund for the renovation of the church in Bukowiec, important Lesser horseshoe bat roost.
The Golden Horseshoe Bat medallion is, in turn, for the individual persons. This award was granted to Mr Wojciech Sanek and Rev. Zenon Tomasiak.
Wojciech Sanek coordinated the activities of the Ciężkowice Museum, and on top of that was very active running lectures and field events. He initiated regular celebration of the Bat Night in the region, and hanging out the bat boxes.
Rev. Dr Zenon Krzysztof Tomasiak, due to his consistent efforts to protect bat summer and winter roosts and promoting the positive image of the winged mammals, gained a nickname “parish of the bats”. His endeavours reached beyond the Bukowice parish. He fought to prevent felling trees on the bat flyways, supported bat researchers in their field work, and, being an amateur speleologist, supported protection of the Diabla Dziura cave, where the Lesser horseshoe and other bats spend their Winter.
The awards were handed by Rafał Szkudlarek, chairman of the Polish Society of Wildlife Friends “pro Natura”.
During the Korona Pogórzy event, there was a public signing of the cooperation agreement between the Korzenna Municipality, represented by Mayor Leszek Skowron and the Polish Society of Wildlife Friends “pro Natura” declaring common work in the promotion and conservation of bats.
