BRITISH BATS

A unique sight in our night skies

Churches are still a refuge for bats, but there are fewer roosting sites in modern buildings, and the ponds, hedgerows and woods they need have become scarce. Britain has 17 species, soon to be 16. There is only one male, greater mouse-eared bat in existence, living a bachelor life in Sussex. And, although he could live for another ten years, the prospects of a soulmate are bleak. He will inevitably be lost to Britain, but he does have plenty of cousins across the Channel. Of immediate concern here is the grey long-eared bat, found in only a few southern counties, and numbering about 1,000. The greater horseshoe bat, while not the rarest, is disappearing at the fastest rate – a loss of 90 per cent in the past 100 years, says the Bat Conservation Trust. There may be only 4,000 individuals left, clinging on mainly in Devon.

Action Traditional orchards – even a cluster of fruit trees – provide foraging opportunities for bats, which can feast on insects from the canopy and the grass beneath. Keep outside lights to a minimum as they disturb most species of bat. Install a bat box in a sheltered, sunny spot as close to the eaves of your house as possible.

Why we must save them Bats are excellent pest controllers, eating thousands of insects every night. UK bats won’t bite you or suck your blood, but they will help clear the air of bloodsucking mosquitoes.

Cause for hope There is increasing awareness of their vital role in nature. The Field Studies Council runs residential courses with expert tutors (field-studiescouncil.org). It is offering CL readers an illustrated, laminated chart of Land Mammals of Britain and Ireland at the discounted price of £2.40 plus p&p. There is no limit on the number you can buy. Quote the discount code FSC2019CL on the website; open until 31 March 2019.