Bats are a vital part of our native wildlife, accounting for almost a third of all mammal species in the UK. They can live in a wide range of habitats, such as wetlands, woodlands, farmland, as well as more urban areas. They can tell us a lot about the state of the environment, as they are top predators of common nocturnal insects and are sensitive to changes in land use practices. The pressures they face - such as landscape change, agricultural intensification, development, and habitat fragmentation are also relevant to many other wildlife species, making them excellent indicators for the wider health of the UK's wildlife.

At Avon Wildlife Trust, we’re currently working on an 18-month woodland regeneration project in North Somerset, including our Goblin Combe nature reserve, call Wilder Woodlands. Funded by the Natural England Species Recovery Programme Capital Grant Scheme, we’re improving the habitat and increasing biodiversity across the landscape, especially for bat species such as lesser horseshoe bats, greater horseshoe bats and barbastelle bats, as well as dormice. 

As part of this work, we’ve been installing more bat boxes throughout the woodland to provide safe spots for wildlife, as well as creating what’s known as standing dead wood. Standing dead wood is created when you intentionally damage trees which had previously been earmarked for felling, in order to create cracks and cavities which bats like to roost in. We’re also going to be engaging with the local community, to help spread the word about why these local species are so important!

Another area where they’ve been going a bit batty is Writhlington, in Somer Valley, where our Nextdoor Nature team have been helping local residents get better acquainted with their nocturnal neighbours. Back in the summer, local resident and ecologist, Emma, led an exciting bat walk, where families were equipped with bat detectors and learned more about these captivating creatures before witnessing them hunt in the twilight. Some kids saw bats for the first time, which was magical!

After the bat walk was such a hit, the Nextdoor Nature Somer Valley team (funded by the West of England Combined Authority through the UKSPF, administered by the West of England Combined Authority) worked with one of the residents, Jeff, who wanted to set up an intergenerational bat box building event. The turnout was a testament to how the community of Writhlington comes together! All of the bat boxes created will be installed throughout the village, with four specifically going into the Plantation, a green space where Curo are helping us and the community improve for the benefit of wildlife.

Jeff found the experience incredibly rewarding and is already planning similar events in the future! Attendees were also very excited to receive, as requested, community bat detectors to use whenever they like, and they immediately started planning future community bat walks.

If you’ve been inspired to get to know your local bat population better and help them thrive, here are three fang-tastic things you can do:
 

• Create a safe space to roost: Autumn is a great time of year to put up a bat box, as it’s when bats will be mating, as well as feeding themselves up before they hibernate over winter. You can find instructions on how to create your own on The Wildlife Trusts website, or you can buy one ready-made. You must ensure you don’t disturb a bat box once its up, a all bat species and their roosts are legally protected.
   
• Get planting: By planting new flowers, trees and shrubs in the Autumn, bats will have more insects to feed on when they wake from hibernation in the Spring! Buddleia, common honeysuckle, crab apple, dog rose, hawthorn, hazel and ivy will all set you up well for providing our bat friends with a tasty treat.
   
• Monitor your local colony (or should we say cauldron?): While they may be slowing down around now, sunset is still the best time of day to see bats in flight. Head out to your local park, or even watch them from your garden! They can often be seen around rivers, streams, canals and lakes, which provide them with insects to eat and act as a good landmark to help them find their favourite hunting grounds.

Halloween is the perfect time of year to spread the word about how important bats are to creating a more nature-rich Avon. From pollinating, to managing insects, to showing us how well (or not!) a local habitat is doing, they’re a wonder of nature and should be celebrated all year round!