In the United Kingdom, bats make up a quarter of all of our mammal species yet most of our bat species are endangered or critically endangered. However, when using a landscape gardener you can gain advice through their ecologists on whether your ideas for a commercial garden or outside space will negatively affect the bat population or not.

This blog aims to give you some ideas on how to protect the bat species in the UK and why it is important to do so.

The Importance of Protecting Bats in Relation to Ecology

Some bats are considered ‘indicator species’ in the UK because changes to their numbers may signal changes in biodiversity. Because our bats feed on insects, if insect population decreases so may the bat population.

Not only are bats indicators of whether the insect population is doing well, they are also pollinators! Bats can pollinate 500 different species of plants, these include mango and banana trees. As well as pollinating they help new trees and plants grow too, bats often eat fruit including their seeds and when they fly away from the tree eventually they excrete these seeds and they are planted where they fall.

Over 70% of all bat species feed on insects and help to reduce the mosquito population, which is beneficial as mosquitos are known for carrying dangerous diseases and being generally uncomfortable when bitten.

Another reason it is very important to respect bats' habitats and keep their safety in mind is that they have been recognised as zoonotic disease carriers, this means they carry diseases started in animals which can be spread to humans and be potentially dangerous. Although is has been proven covid-19 did not come from bats it has been proven to they can carry zoonotic diseases, so after the devastation of the pandemic it is in everyone's best interests maintain a healthy distance from wild animals by providing them with enough habitat so that they don’t come into close contact with humans or livestock.

What can you and Ecologist do to Help Bats Avoid Extinction?

Make your own bat house - In places without many trees, you can make them a roosting spot so they have a habitat, you should paint the box in dark colours and hang it 15 - 20 feet high.
Do not use pesticides - These kill bats' favourite food; insects!
Bat Surveys - Before making changes to a forest or a cave, bat surveys should be conducted.

If you are unsure if your actions are having a negative impact upon bats, you can ring the

National Bat Helpline to gain advice from bat experts.

At Lizard Landscape Design and Ecology we Protect Biodiversity

With our ecological services we have outlined when is the optimal time to do bat surveys which will conclude whether your landscape design will have a positive or negative impact upon the bat population. Please contact us on the following number to ask any questions about how we prioritise ecology in our landscaping designs. 01903 216033