Conservation of bats in British woodlands

TL;DRAbstract

Broadleaved woodlands are probably the most important of British habitats for bat conservation. For most of the year they support a great variety and abundance of invertebrates for bats to feed on. They also offer a huge selection of tree cavities – crevices, bark flaps, fissures and woodpecker holes – where bats can rest during the day and where females can gather in maternity colonies, to give birth and nurse their young. All 16 British species of bat make regular use of trees and wooded areas, and some of our rarest bats are woodland specialists. Yet, in spite of their importance, there is a distinct lack of knowledge about bats in woodlands. Even most bat specialists know much less about the distribution, behaviour or conservation status of bats inhabiting woodlands than about bats that roost in buildings or caves. The main reason for this is that bats are particularly difficult to find or record in woodlands, which has made them very hard to survey or study. In this article we des

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