Saturday 24^th August marks International Bat Night, an opportunity to celebrate Britain’s 18 species of bat. Bats are most active in the summer months when they come out of hibernation, hunt insects, give birth and raise young. The best time to see them is around sunset or sunrise when it is warm and dry, often above our gardens.

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust's Moorlands nature reserve to the north of York has a number of bat boxes which have been successfully used by common pipistrelle and brown long-eared bats, with soprano pipistrelle, Brandt's and Daubenton's bats having also been recorded here.

A summer evening stroll along the Lines Way near Leeds will offer a glimpse of bats foraging overhead. Potteric Carr nature reserve near Doncaster is also a great place to spot bats, and Staveley nature reserve in north Yorkshire is particularly good for pipistrelles.

If heading out onto the reserve after dark, make sure to take a torch, dress sensibly and let someone know where you’re going.

Bat from the brink

Thankfully, things are starting to turn around for our bats after populations suffered huge declines last century. Recent survey results released by the National Bat Monitoring Programme show that at least three of the UK’s bat species are showing significant signs of population increase, and another six species or species groups appear stable. This is due to efforts by nature and bat conservation groups to protect bats by law and better-manage and improve their local habitats.

Despite some recovery, bat population numbers are not back to pre-crash levels. One third of Britain’s most highly threatened mammal species are bats, so there is definitely more we can do to help them thrive!

Three ways you can help bats

Plant night-scented flowers

Plant night scented flowers like honeysuckle and evening primrose to attract the insects that bats feed on. You could even give Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s Wildlife Gardening Award a go, and make your garden a haven for all kinds of wildlife!

Reduce or remove artificial lighting

Artificial lighting in your house and garden can disorientate bats and disrupts their feeding. Remember to close your curtains at night and turn off any outside lights so that bats can hunt in peace.

Put up a bat box

Bat boxes can be installed at any time of year, but they are more likely to be used during their first summer if they are put up before the bats emerge from hibernation in the spring.

You could buy a bat box from our online store or have a go at making your own by following the instructions here.

All UK bats and their roosts, including boxes are protected by law - it is illegal to harm or disturb them, but you can contact your local Bat Conservation Trust for help and advice.

Your box should ideally be:

• At least 4m above the ground. On buildings, boxes should be placed as close to the eaves as possible.
• Away from artificial light sources, sheltered from strong winds and exposed to the sun for part of the day (usually south, south-east or southwest).

And don’t worry if your box isn’t immediately full of bats – wildlife needs time to explore new habitats so it might just take a little while for the bats to find their new home!