Today is International Bat Appreciation Day and here at Penny’s Trust we want to extend our arms out further to support every animal we can!

Bat populations have suffered severe declines in the past century. 4 of our 17 UK breeding bat species are red-listed as at risk of extinction due to loss of habitat, food or roosts, pollution, disease, and hunting.

Natural habitats such as hedgerows and woodlands have been declining, and intensive farming practices and the use of pesticides have reduced the number of insects which bats rely on for food.

However, bats are a vital part of our native wildlife (not to mention extremely cute!). Certain bats are pollinators, and they can also be seed dispersers, playing a critical role in the spreading of seeds of trees and other plants. For example, some tropical fruit bats carry seeds inside them whilst they digest the fruit and then excrete them elsewhere which can help with reforestation.

As they make up a third of mammal species in the UK and can be found across a wide range of habitats, they can also be used as indicators of biodiversity. They are the top predators of common nocturnal insects and are sensitive to changes in land use practices so their population numbers and other indicators can tell us more about the wider health of UK native wildlife.

Have a garden and want to help protect this wonderful species?

Due to their natural habitats declining and their reliance on woods and hedgerows in navigation, your gardening practices can really help out.

Here are some gardening tips according to the Woodland Trust:

• Grow plants that flower early and late in the season to support as many insects as you possibly can.

• Plant evening-scented flowers such as honeysuckle to attract night-flying insects like moths - a favourite food of bats.

• Avoid showy, double petaled cultivars. They don't produce much nectar.

• Ensure a variety of colours and flower shapes to suit different invertebrates.

• Plant trees and hedges to provide navigation aids and spots for roosting – Oak, beech and ash trees are useful to bats but just about any native tree has potential for roosting.

• Mature shrubs can also be good roosts.

• Consider creating a pond. Even small ponds boost insect biodiversity for species such as hoverflies, mosquitoes and midges.

• Leave untidy areas such piles of compost and log piles to encourage insects.

• Avoid pesticides.

• Install bat boxes on mature trees or the sides of buildings. There are instructions for building your own bat boxes from the Bat Conservation Trust.

Want to spot bats near you?

The best time is coming up soon as the high period is from May until September and particularly within the first half hour after sunset you may be able to spot them flying about.

They like areas free from light pollution, woodland avenues and long bushy hedgerows, so they can move between areas without being exposed out in the open.

Head over to https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2020/05/bats-in-gardens/ for a list of the most common species you might see and what they look like so you can identify them!

If you wish to support the conservation of bats, you can become a member of, donate to or even adopt a bat at https://www.bats.org.uk/support-bats

Let’s support our bats on this International Bat Appreciation Day!

Information taken from: Bat Conservation Trust, Woodland Trust and National Trust