Why bats need woods and trees

A staggering 75% of the UK's bat species rely on trees, woods, hedgerows and deadwood. All year-round.

Delve into why trees are important to bats, the specific tree features that are vital to the majority of these aerial acrobats, and how we take action to secure the wooded habitats that they rely on. 

How do bats use woodland and hedgerows?

Bats have diverse needs that woodland and hedgerows fulfil. Take a walk around a wood and you may see a mixture of habitats. Below the canopy of conifer and broadleaved trees, a shrubby understorey thrives alongside rides rich with varied vegetation and watercourses and ponds that are alive with insects. The canopy may give way to open glades, grassland and wildflower meadows, or envelope the occasional disused building or structure that some species rely on. 

At dusk on a summer evening, you may see bats peeling away from their roosts and taking to the skies to find food – some travel over large distances. Look out for linear features like woodland edges, hedgerows and rivers that are important navigational landmarks and commuting corridors for species like the lesser horseshoe and greater horseshoe.

You might be lucky enough to see bats swooping as they hunt for insects – some species, like Daubenton’s bats, prefer waterways where they can also have a drink as they forage, while others prefer grassland or woodland. While most bats commute to different areas to feed, the elusive Bechstein's bat roosts and forages in woodland, and very rarely ventures further afield.

Come winter, bats will be hibernating within the hollows of trees or in old buildings and viaducts. 

4 tree features bats depend on

Next time you explore a woodland or hedgerow, take a look at the trees and you will soon see that they have plenty of nooks and crannies for bats to live, mate, hibernate and give birth in.

Bats are nocturnal mammals, so you're unlikely to see them during the day, but you may pass right by a hollow tree harbouring a noctule maternity colony of up to 200 individuals.

Oak, ash, beech, sycamore and Scots pine all play a role in supporting bats, with ancient and veteran trees being particularly sought after by these flying animals. Here are four tree features that help to support bats.

What we're doing to help bats

Bat populations have fallen dramatically in the past few decades due to habitat destruction and loss of prey. We aim to increase roosting opportunities, improve foraging areas and boost insect numbers, by protecting, restoring and managing trees, woodland and hedgerows.

When woods and trees face challenges, the bats that depend on them also suffer. They lose their roosting sites, hunting grounds and navigational landmarks. Individuals may not be able to find breeding partners and the community as a whole may be vulnerable to a lack of resources and disease.

We encourage the natural cycle of establishment, growth and aging of habitats, while campaigning to safeguard our precious ancient woodlands and trees against developments and threats, like HS2 and pests and diseases. To help stabilise and boost populations of bats we: 

• install bat boxes in young newly planted habitats
• encourage a diverse and species-rich woodland structure with open glades, woodland rides, waterbodies, and more
• create commuting corridors and join up habitats
• provide protected roost sites by managing a broad age structure and a diverse tree population
• leave old trees and dead, dying or damaged trees in place, where it is safe to do so
• operate on a no-pesticide policy so that insects can thrive.

If you are interested in bats, look out for them at dusk. Our woods support a range of species, with Pressmennan Wood, Parc Mawr and Duncliffe Wood being hot spots for these insectivores. You can encourage bats too by making your garden bat-friendly.