Bat Friendly Gardens Help Threatened Species
A Wide Variety of Plants Provide a Healthy Ecosystem for Wildlife
Jan 13, 2009
The role of bats in a healthy environment is better understood and myths about them are being dispelled but habitat loss, pesticide exposure and light pollution are making it important to provide them with safe haven.
Threats to Bat in the Wild
Hibernating and maternal bat colonies are particularly affected by human disturbance. When hibernating bats are roused they waste energy, often losing as much body fat in a short time as they would during two weeks of hibernating. In maternal colonies babies too young to fly may be dropped to the ground or abandoned by their frightened parents.
As nocturnal feeders, bats are particularly affected by light pollution. Nighttime lights change the behavior of prey insects and interfere with roosting sites. Bats alter their flight paths to avoid roads where street lamps are used, wasting energy in the process.
Pesticides are harmful to bats in two ways. They reduce the number and variety of prey insects for the bats and surviving insects carry traces of the chemicals, which the bats absorb when they eat the insects.
Bats have been affected by habitat loss on several levels. Reduction in woodlands and closure of cave entrances reduces roosting sites. In rural areas, the decrease in outbuildings has added to the loss of roosts.
Bat Friendly Plants
A variety of flowers, herbs, shrubs and trees that are fragrant and pleasing to the eye are good for bats as they attract insects. Many will attract butterflies and birds in the daylight hours increasing both the value of the garden to wildlife conservation and for personal enjoyment.
Choose local native plants or closely related species which will attract local native wildlife. Include some pale flowers as they are more easily seen in poor light.
Forget-me-nots (Myositis sp), Ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), evening primrose (Oenathera biennis) and Michalmas daisy (Aster sp) flower at different times of the year helping ensure a continuous insect population. Herbs such as rosemary (Rosemary officinalis), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) and lavender (Lavendula sp) can also be included.
Trees, shrubs and climbing plants including oak (Quercus sp), silver birch (Betula pendula), Butterfly bush (Buddleia sp) and honeysuckle (Lonicera sp) give shelter to wildlife while drawing beneficial insects including butterflies and ladybugs.
Bat Boxes and Artificial Lighting
Once bats have been attracted to the garden, it is helpful to provide bat boxes for them to roost in. Shelter near a food source conserves energy and reduces dangers of migrating to and from that food source.
Ideally there would be no artificial lighting in the garden but if it is necessary, the Bat Conservation Trust has developed guidelines for the types of lighting which will have the least impact on bats. Important concepts include short lighting columns and low level directed lights using hoods, cowls and shields to reduce the area being lit. Low pressure sodium lights are recommended as the least light pollution causing.
The bat friendly garden can easily reflect the tastes and interests of the gardener while providing valuable wildlife habitat. For more information on bat friendly gardens and lighting the Bat Conservation Trust has several publications available for downloading.
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