Last night saw another successful Friends of Horfield Common guided walk, this time exploring the Folklore of Wildflowers with local naturalist Eric Swithinbank.
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After a day of almost continuous rain, we were relieved to see the skies clear just in time for the walk, and it was wonderful to see such a good turnout. People of varying ages and backgrounds joined us to explore the hidden stories, uses and meanings behind some of the plants growing quietly around us on Horfield Common.

On Thursday 14 May 2026, FoHC’s bat box project reached an exciting milestone as Joe from Bristol City Council’s ParkWork scheme arrived with a very long ladder and installed 15 new bat boxes around Horfield Common.
 
You might think that it would be a simple task, but it took a lot of careful planning. A few months earlier, we spent two hours of deliberation with the council’s ecologist and the Treeworks officer to identify suitable trees. Bat boxes need to be placed with care.
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The boxes need to sit on good strong branches, at a fork with the trunk, to prevent them from swinging about. They need to be situated between four and six metres from the ground. They must be facing roughly southwards so that the boxes, and therefore bats, are warmed up quickly by the sun in the spring. They can’t be erected over paths, as that could be a hazard if they became dislodged for any reason. Lights and buildings can disturb them, so the boxes must be far enough away from roads as possible.  The boxes must be secured without the use of nails, so as not to damage the trees. Bats need a clear line of flight to the box, which cannot be impeded by other branches.  

​And after all that deliberation and work there is still more to be done. We’re told that it might be a few years before the bats really start using the boxes but initially, they may use them as temporary shelters. The boxes will be monitored through the summer and autumn until the bats hibernate. Then next year the bat boxes will need to be cleaned by a bat specialist ready for the new season.
 
On our regular organised bat walks with Steve England, we will continue to note the species of bat that fly over Horfield Common. On previous walks we have identified Common Pipistrelle, Soprano Pipistrelle and Noctule bats, and hope that more might come now that we have two ponds (well... one and a half at time of writing) attracting the insects that bats like Daubenton's bats love to hunt.

​Is it worth all this effort? Of course. Safe roosting places for bats are becoming harder to find, especially as older buildings are repaired or altered. These boxes give bats more options, while our ponds and habitats help provide the insects they need to feed. These boxes will also help strengthen the wider network of bat-friendly habitats, linking Horfield Common with other known bat sites such as Badock’s Wood and Stoke Park Estate. A small but important step in making Horfield Common and north Bristol in general better for wildlife.

Find out more about bats.. book onto our September bat walk here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/autumnal-bat-walk-preparing-for-winter-at-horfield-common-tickets-1985647492101?aff=erelexpmlt

Following our recent Spring Bat Walk, it was clear just how active bats are around Horfield Common, particularly in the areas around the Lower Common Wildlife Pond and the surrounding trees. Seeing Common Pipistrelles and Soprano Pipistrelles at close range was a reminder of how important these habitats are. As a group, we are keen to build on this, and we are pleased to say that we will soon be installing bat boxes on the Common to provide additional roosting spaces. These boxes can offer safe places for bats to rest during the day and, at this time of year, may also support females looking to establish nursery colonies.

Why bats need our help
May and early summer are particularly important months for bats. As evenings become warmer, bats are more active, feeding heavily on insects. Female bats begin to gather in groups, forming nursery colonies where they will give birth to and raise their pups, typically in June. In urban environments like Horfield, suitable roosting spaces can be limited, and changes in land use and lighting can make it harder for bats to thrive. This is why both habitat management on the Common and small changes in our own gardens can make a real difference.

What you can do in your garden
Bats rely on a steady supply of insects, so anything that supports insect life will, in turn, support bats. Even small gardens can play a valuable role. You can help by: Planting insect-friendly flowers

Choose a mix of flowering plants that provide nectar and pollen through the seasons. Avoiding pesticides
Reducing or eliminating pesticide use allows insect populations to flourish. Creating habitat for insects
Leaving areas a little “untidy” with logs, leaf piles or long grass can provide shelter for insects. Reducing outdoor lighting

Bats prefer darker environments for feeding and moving around. Keeping lighting to a minimum, or using motion sensors, can help. A shared effort The installation of bat boxes on the Common is one small part of a wider effort to support local wildlife. What makes a real difference is the combination of well-managed public spaces and wildlife-friendly gardens across the area. Together, these create a network of habitats that allow bats and other species to move, feed and thrive.

If you would like to learn more, there is a useful guide by Wild About Gardens here:
https://www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk/sites/default/files/2018-08/wild%20about%20gardens_stars%20of%20the%20nights_help%20bats.pdf Every small change helps, and it is encouraging to know that the bats we saw on our walk are part of a wider local population that we can all support.

We will share updates once the bat boxes are installed, and we hope they will become part of a wider network of habitats across the Common. If you would like to experience bat activity for yourself, we will be running an Autumn Bat Walk in September, focusing on how bats prepare for winter.

You can find more details and book here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/autumnal-bat-walk-preparing-for-winter-at-horfield-common-tickets-1985647492101?aff=erelexpmlt 

You can also explore our other upcoming walks and activities via our website, or get involved with Friends of Horfield Common to support our ongoing conservation work.