January 18, 2024
There are 18 species of bat in the U.K. but their populations have severely declined over the past 100 years, largely due to the disruption of their habitats.
Fortunately, they are now protected under legislation (the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981).
Bats are nocturnal. Where they stay during the day is known as a roost; they have maternity roosts in the summer and hibernation roosts in the winter.
Different conditions are required at different times of the year.
Hollow trees, caves and roof spaces are common roost sites, depending on the species.
Different species require different habitat.
This is where the importance of old trees as habitat comes into play, but we also have something else at High House…
During the 18th and 19th centuries, before the invention of refrigeration, large country houses had ice houses that could store ice collected from lakes and ponds during the winter, insulating it well enough so that it could be used throughout the year.
Once these buildings fell out of use – and with a noticeable lack of caves in this part of the U.K. – certain bats moved in.
Our ice house is a brick building, cylindrical in shape and approx. 5-6m deep with an additional sump chamber beneath that. It is hidden in the woods, covered by earth with a small arched entrance leading to the main chamber.
The recent cold weather has meant that it’s the perfect time to count the bats, with help from a specialist, of course.
The count involves dropping ladders into the ice house and looking behind the planks and bricks that we have hung for them to crawl and roost behind.
Over the past 10 years we’ve made lots of changes to the ways we manage High House’s park and woodland: more flowers, longer grass, more ponds, leaving dead trees lying where they fall where we can – all of which we hope have led to more insects!
Counting the bats can be an indication that we are going in the right direction.
So, the results are in (please remove the Indiana Jones style whirling storm of bats from your mind)…
In 2020 we counted 10 Daubentons
In 2022 we counted 17 Daubentons and 5 Natterers
This year we counted 10 Natterers, 16 Daubentons and 1 Brown Long-Eared Bat.
Natterers are quite scarce across the country, the U.K. population is described as being of international significance.
Daubentons like to hunt over water, so fingers crossed our additional ponds, as they fill with life, will positively impact the local population.
The Brown Long-Eared Bats have ears almost as long as their body!
