Banter 65: 16Apr25 Bats, with Daisy Finniear

A fascinating account of the Bats to be found in Britain, their main habitats, their contributions to our biodiversity, and how to increase their numbers

https://youtu.be/6U-9sMo_OAYyoutu.be
Daisy's video session: Bats!

Video Timeline (min:sec);

00:00 - 32:12 Presentation

32:12 - 51:39 (end) Q & A

Presentation:

19MB
Bats, Climate and Biodiversity.pptx
Open
Daisy's presentation on Bats

Daisy also had some other suggestions for attendees:

About Bats and Disease: https://www.bats.org.uk/about-bats/bats-and-disease/bats-and-viruses

About hedgerow management (hedgerows give bats biodiversity, and lines with which to navigate): This suggests limiting cutting hedges where possible to every 3 years or more. But where it is not possible to leave a hedge to grow wide and tall, hedge laying is also good for bats as it encourages greater insect populations = more food. There is also some great info on hedges here https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/how-manage-hedgerow-wildlife

Meeting Summary:

Apr 16, 2025 11:53 AM London ID: 834 5460 8536

Quick recap

The meeting focused on bat conservation, beginning with a presentation by Daisy, a climate and nature officer, who provided information on bat biology, behavior, and ecological importance. Participants discussed various ways to support bat populations, including habitat management, community initiatives, and the use of bat boxes. The group also addressed misconceptions about bats, explored biodiversity net gain requirements, and shared experiences with local conservation efforts.

Next steps

Daisy to share more information about volunteer recruitment strategies with Stuart.

Daisy to look into implementing a bat box building project with local Alzheimer's groups or care homes.

Daisy to explore starting a repair cafe for building bat boxes.

Daisy to consider using the Batman theme song or pun in future bat presentations.

Gary to share more details about Corsham's bat scape strategy with other attendees.

Graham to organize next week's meeting about an education Nature Park.

Summary

Casual Chat About Bats

Daisy shared her interest in bats, which she developed after a bat walk in 2017. She studied bats for her master's dissertation, focusing on the impact of music festivals on bat populations. Graham and Daisy expressed their hope that others would become more interested in bats after the conversation.

Geographical Diversity of Meeting Participants

The group discusses the geographical diversity of meeting participants, with members joining from various parts of the UK. Daisy, the climate and nature officer at Frampton Cotchell Parish Council, prepares to give a presentation. The conversation briefly touches on bat species in different areas, with Andrew mentioning that Martock has nine species, making it a bat hotspot. Daisy and Garry reveal that they hold similar environmental roles in their respective parish councils, which is relatively uncommon but becoming more prevalent.

Bats: Biology, Behavior, and Ecological Importance

Daisy provides an informative presentation about bats, covering various aspects of their biology, behavior, and ecological importance. She debunks common misconceptions about bats, such as vampire bats being bloodthirsty and bats being blind. Daisy highlights the diversity of bat species worldwide, their unique adaptations, and their crucial roles in pollination and pest control. She also discusses the threats facing bats, including habitat loss, urbanization, light pollution, and climate change. The presentation focuses on British bats, mentioning that there are 17 breeding species in the UK, and explains how bats use echolocation to navigate and hunt for insects.

Echolocation Video Sharing Issues

Daisy and Graham experienced technical difficulties with their Zoom screen sharing, including a block on the screen and sound issues. Daisy managed to resolve these problems and shared a video about echolocation, which she planned to follow up with a link. The video demonstrated the process of echolocation. Daisy also mentioned showing some bat calls, but the details were not provided in the transcript.

Bat Conservation in the UK

Daisy gives a presentation on different bat species in the UK and ways to help protect them. She describes four species: the noctual bat (the largest), the pipistrel bat (the smallest), the serotine bat, and the Daubenton's bat. Daisy then outlines several ways to support bat populations, including planting wildflowers, reducing pesticide use, installing bat boxes, creating water sources, and maintaining dark corridors. She also discusses various projects implemented by Frampton Parish Council to promote bat conservation, such as accessible bat workshops and a bat detector loan program.

Volunteer Engagement and Biodiversity Discussion

Daisy discussed the importance of generating enthusiasm and creating opportunities for volunteers to participate in nature events. She shared her strategy of signing up volunteers during events and keeping them updated on upcoming opportunities. Daisy also addressed the misconception that bats are responsible for spreading diseases, emphasizing that it's often a result of human encroachment on their habitat. Andrew Maliphant then discussed the concept of biodiversity net gain, mentioning the use of bat boxes for smaller animals.

Bat Boxes Limit Biodiversity Net Gain

The group discusses the limitations of bat boxes in biodiversity net gain calculations for developers. Andrew explains that while bat boxes can be recommended, they don't count towards the required 10% biodiversity increase. Daisy shares her experience with this issue in a recent planning application. Garry then describes a successful community initiative where a local woodworking group, including an Alzheimer's group, produces bat and bird boxes for placement around the parish. Daisy expresses enthusiasm for this inclusive approach to wildlife conservation.

Bat Conservation and Habitat Management

The group discusses bat conservation efforts and habitat management. Daisy explains that bat towers and tiles on buildings can provide roosting spaces for bats that tolerate urban environments, while maintaining natural habitats is also important. She advises on hedgerow management, suggesting a mix of thick, dense hedges and laid hedges to benefit bats and other wildlife. Andrew Maliphant shares that planning authorities have increased requirements for checking bat feeding areas in new housing developments. The group also discusses what to do if a bat enters a home, with Daisy recommending opening a window to let it out if it's healthy.

Chat:

From Ian Dibben: Somerset Bat Group. Somerset Bat Group [email protected]

00:46:58 Garry Ford - Corsham Town Council: sppnp-corsham-batscape-strategy-reduced.pdf

00:53:19 Andrew Clegg, Martock, Somerset. 9 species of bat: We have successfully persuaded developers to put in bat tiles. Not quite sure how these work.

00:59:21 Lucy Dibben: Kingsdon wildlife awareness group borrowing Somerset Bat Conservation’s bat detectors again at end of August for residents to get involved :)

01:04:16 Jacky Lawrence, Napton, Warwickshire: Thank you

01:04:36 Lucy Dibben: Thank you

Speech-to-text (for AI Summary):

Markdown of Daisy's presentation (for the AI Search engine):

Bats, Climate and Biodiversity

Daisy Finniear – Climate & Nature Officer

Bat Facts

  • Vampire bats

  • Sparkly poop

  • Baby bats

  • Delayed pregnancy

  • “Blind as a bat”

  • “Mice with wings?”

  • Only flying mammal

  • Long life expectancy

Bats Around the World

  • Over 1300 species worldwide

  • Varied specialities and diets

  • Weight: From 2g to 1.5kg

  • Wingspan: Up to 5 feet

  • Notable species:

    • Tiny Honduran bat

    • Giant flying fox

    • Pipistrelle

    • Jamaican fruit bat

Why Do Bats Matter Globally?

Threats

  • Habitat loss and urbanisation

  • Light pollution

  • Cats

  • Climate change

  • Disease

British Bats

  • 17 species – all insectivores

  • Exceptional listeners

  • Forage: near rivers, gardens, lakes, hedgerows, trees

  • Roost: in trees, buildings, caves, mines, rock crevices

Echolocation

Video credit: Nature Habitat Shorts

Noctule Bat –

The BIG Loud One

  • Largest UK bat (~40g)

  • Flies high, first to emerge

  • Can cause temporary deafness

  • Distinctive call: Noctule call

Pipistrelle Bat –

The Small But Mighty One

  • Smallest UK bat (~5g)

  • Eats up to 3000 insects/night

  • Distinctive call: Pipistrelle call

Serotine Bats –

The Jazzy One

Daubenton Bat –

The Water One

  • Machine gun-like sound

  • Skims water (rivers, lakes, ponds)

  • Frequency: 45kHz, long-range

Helping Bats in Your Garden

Frampton Cotterell Bat Projects

  • Bat walks and workshops – accessible to deaf, blind, wheelchair users

  • Partner orgs: Centre for Deaf, RNIB, BCT

  • Bat detectors for loan – policy in place

  • Community surveys

  • Frampton Festival

  • Bat box making & installing

  • Community Nature Reserve – bats and beyond

  • Local policies

Bat Map – Frampton Cotterell

Useful Links – Thank You!

PreviousBanter 66: 23Apr25 Nature Park, with Martin HarrisonNextBanter 64: 09Apr25, De-carbonising Community Buildings, Andrew Maliphant

Last updated