Photo credit: Dawn Quinn
The key to gardening for bats is to provide the kinds of habitats that bats prefer in a natural situation. For many bats this means ensuring that there are plenty of broadleaved trees and shrubs, and flowering plants that attract night flying insects.
- Hedgerows with native plant species (such as hawthorn, hazel, willow) are very important. Bats like to fly along these features because they have more insects around them than open ground and also because they provide shelter and protection.
- Ponds also attract plenty of beneficial insects and bats can use them to drink.
- You can encourage roosting bats by putting up a bat box.
- Lots of flowers – particularly night scented ones – will attract insect prey for bats.
- Letting your garden go a little wild, perhaps in one corner, and avoiding the use of pesticide sprays will also be beneficial.
- Prevent light spill from your home by simply closing the curtains at night.
Photo credit: Niamh Roche