Bat Week runs from 24th - 31st October to raise awareness of these amazing nocturnal creatures we have little contact with. They are the only flying mammals, have good eyesight (contrary to belief) and can live for up to 30 years!
Horseshoe Bat: Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com)
Bats are an important part of our eco system pollinating plants and spreading seed through their nutrient rich droppings, and they reduce the need for pesticides due to the number of insects they feed on at night.
Like many native species, they are under threat from diminishing habitat so anything we can do to help them thrive in our gardeners can have a real impact, especially when you consider the fact that there are approximately 23 million gardens in the UK; so there's plenty of domestic habitat to encourage the bat population!
Suggestions from the Bat Conservation Trust include:
British bats are all legally protected so this means places where they roost and hibernate are also protected. If you need to work on trees or buildings where bats are present, you will need to seek advice on how to proceed.
If the mild evenings continue, you may like to try some bat spotting; here the Natural History Museum's tips on how to see bats and info from the Wildlife trusts on where to see bats. To bring them closer to home, you might like to try building your own bat box or you can buy one online.
When the birds and other daytime creatures have retired for the evening, it's always a thrill to see the next flutter of life with bats in the garden swooping for nocturnal insects. Sometimes, it's just a matter of being out there at their time. Happy bat spotting!