Supporting Bats on Horfield Common and at Home

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.