23 November 2009
As the autumnal nights draw in, almost all of the 17 species of bat found in the UK - of which nine are found in North East England - are quietly seeking out suitable sites for hibernation. Whilst some will find hollows in trees or caves in which to roost, many others will shelter in buildings, behind hanging tiles and boarding, or in roof spaces.
The use of buildings for roosts is not new. As land use has intensified and tree cover diminished over the centuries, so bats have adapted to make use of man-made structures.
David Hirst of Natural England North East, said: “If a roost is found, there is no need to be unduly concerned; bats are exceptionally clean creatures, they do not build nests and will not gnaw at wood or wiring.”
After mating in the autumn, pregnant females will gather together in the summer in maternity roosts to have their young. For up to five weeks the young are suckled by their mothers until they are able to fly and venture out from the roost to forage for food.
The decline in numbers of all species of bats in recent years is largely due to loss of the bat’s natural habitat such as hedgerows, woodlands and ponds as well as a reduction in insect life, their food.
In urban areas, it is easy to help bats by putting up bat boxes and growing specific plants in the garden as well as creating ponds to attract insects.
As one of the most useful and natural forms of pest control, bats are also useful indicators of biodiversity and are now providing an indication of the state of our environment as a whole.”
Recently launched by Natural England, the Big Wildlife Garden, is an innovative web site that has created an online network of gardens and open spaces and encourages people of all ages to discover how to attract more wildlife into their gardens.
David added: “The Big Wildlife Garden is for anyone who is passionate about encouraging wildlife to their garden. It is a great way to ensure that the 19 million gardens in England fulfil their potential as hugely valuable habitats on which so many species depend.”
Across rural England, Higher Level Stewardship agreements, Natural England’s flagship agri-environment scheme, are providing funding for farmers and land managers to protect and restore hedgerows and native woodland as well as a host of other important habitats such as orchards, blanket bog and species rich grasslands.
The National Bat Helpline is 0845 1300228 and is run by the Bat Conservation Trust in association with Natural England and provides information to anyone needing advice on issues relating to bats. Answers to frequently asked bat questions can also be found at www.bats.org.uk
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Bat Fact File
1. There are 17 species of bat in the UK, all of which are protected by law because their numbers have decreased so dramatically
2. A single pipistrelle can consume up to 3000 gnats in one night and 70 percent of all bat species are insectivores (All bats in the UK feed on insects)
3. Bats are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight
4. Worldwide, bats represent 20 percent of all classified mammal species
5. Bats usually only have one baby per year and can live up to 30 years
6. Bats do not gnaw at wood or wiring
7. Bats do not build nests
8. Bats are clean animals; they spend many hours grooming every day
9. The pipistrelle weighs around 5g, less than a £1 coin
10. The brown long eared bat has exceptional hearing; it can hear a ladybird walking
The nine species of bats found in North East England are:
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Daubenton’s
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Noctule
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Pipistrelle (commonest)
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Soprano pipistrelle
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Brown long-Eared
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Leisler’s
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Natterer’s
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Whiskered
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Brandt’s
Bats and Buildings
Guidance on Bats and other protected species: please visit our wildlife species pages.
Natural England
Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings.
Big Wildlife Garden
The Big Wildlife Garden is part of Natural England’s ‘One Million Children Outdoors’ programme which launched in April 2009. By summer, children all over the country were taking part in free outdoor activities all over England associated with this campaign. Please see our related press release.
The Big Wildlife Garden web site is operated by Natural England, the government’s statutory conservation advisor for England. The web site recognises the fact that gardens represent an important area of natural habitat for many species, and that gardening in a wildlife friendly manner can considerably increase the diversity of plants and animals in every garden.
The Big Wildlife Garden is free for anyone of any age to join and is open to individuals, schools or community groups.
Biodiversity
'Biodiversity' is a term commonly used to describe the variety of life on Earth. This encompasses the whole of the natural world and all living things with which we share the planet. It includes plants, animals, even invisible micro-organisms and bacteria which, together, interact in complex ways with the inanimate environment to create living ecosystems.
Biodiversity is all around us: not just in wild places and nature reserves but also in our cities, the places we live and work, our farmland and our countryside. We are an integral part of this biodiversity and exert a major influence over it.
UK Biodiversity Indicators
In 2008 the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) included bats in their set of ‘indicator species,' which help measure progress towards the Government's target of halting biodiversity loss by 2010. The indicators show changes in aspects of biodiversity such as the population size of important species or the area of land managed for wildlife. They provide part of the evidence to assess whether the targets set out above have been achieved.
The six species used as indicator species are the noctule, lesser horseshoe bat, common pipistrelle, soprano pipistrelle, serotine and Daubenton's bat
