Population of Britain's lesser horseshoe bats in VWT-managed roosts
10%
Increase in population in VWT-managed roosts
188%
Britain's first landscape-scale project for lesser horseshoe bats in Wales
Wales is a key stronghold for lesser horseshoe bats, supporting some of the largest and most important populations in Britain and western Europe. However, these populations are under pressure from loss of roosting sites and foraging habitats, predation and competition from other bats. Action is needed to prevent further declines, isolation of populations and local extinctions.
Through this project, Vincent Wildlife Trust (VWT) is taking a strategic approach to secure the future of the species by:
Enhancing existing roosting sites (buildings) to improve breeding success, buffer against climate change and secure them from predators.
Building bespoke bat towers in key areas.
Improving landscape connectivity to allow bats to recolonise former areas and connect fragmented populations.
For the project, we have identified areas where the provision of new roosting sites will contribute the most towards the conservation of the species. This includes areas where lesser horseshoe bats are already present but also in areas where the species is currently absent, and where the addition of potential roosts will significantly contribute towards connecting isolated populations.
Given the considerable threats facing the lesser horseshoe bat in Wales, this Landscape for Lessers project is both timely and essential to secure a future for the species. Additionally, this initiative supports biodiversity, strengthens ecological resilience and enhances the natural heritage of Wales, benefiting both wildlife and local communities.
Get involved!
We are looking for landowners with suitable habitats where we could enhance existing roosting sites or build new bat towers.
VWT will manage all planning, permissions and construction of our tried and tested bat tower design.
More about the Landscape for Lessers project
Following a drastic decline in numbers across Britain and Europe during the 20th century, the lesser horseshoe bat is now restricted to Wales, the West Midlands, southwest England and western Ireland. These populations are now internationally important with Wales as a critical stronghold for the species, supporting some of the largest and most important populations in Britain and western Europe. Yet, recent studies show that without intervention, these populations are at risk of decline.
The lesser horseshoe bat is particularly sensitive to environmental changes and has specific roosting requirements, including undisturbed sites with stable temperatures and humidity, which are increasingly rare. Immediate conservation actions are therefore essential to prevent further declines, isolation of populations and potential local extinctions.
One of the most pressing reasons for this project is the ongoing loss of suitable roosting sites. Lesser horseshoe bats depend on old buildings, barns and natural caves for shelter, which have dwindled due to urban development, agricultural changes, and renovations.
Lesser horseshoe bats winter roosting in an old ice house.
Greater horseshoe bats and birds of prey are a threat to populations of lesser horseshoe bats when roost sites are limited.
Competition The increase in greater horseshoe bat populations, a species sharing very similar ecological niches, has resulted in competition for roost sites with the larger greater horseshoe bat ousting lesser horseshoe bats colonies from their roosts. This has resulted in the local decline of lesser horseshoe bats in isolated regions, such as Pembrokeshire, in areas where there is the lack of other suitable roosting opportunities nearby.
Predation Birds of prey, including owls and sparrowhawks are known to predate on bats at their roost sites, which will cause a colony to abandon the roost and try to find an alternative site. ADD HIGH MARKS BARN VIDEO
Climate change presents another serious threat to the lesser horseshoe bat, impacting their hibernation cycles, breeding success, and food availability.
Warmer winters can disrupt hibernation, forcing bats to expend energy at a time when food is scarce, which can lead to increased mortality rates. Wet springs may also result in poor breeding success and more frequent and severe storms can potentially further damage structures of old roosting sites.
In addition, extremes of temperature can have a drastic impact on bat colonies where roosts sites are poorly insulated against very high or very low temperatures.
VWT's Landscape for Lessers project continues the landscape-scale connectivity work, the predator-proofing work and the work to future-proof roost sites against the impacts of climate change that VWT has been developing and trialling in a number of bat roosts and reserves around Britain and Ireland.
Connectivity VWT has built a number of bat towers to provide roost sites for lesser horseshoe bats in areas where suitable roosts are unavailable or where greater horseshoe bats have forced the lessers to abandon a roost. These towers also help to link isolated populations and to increase resilience through genetic diversity.
Predator-proofing Structures such as tip trays and baffles help to keep predators out of roost sites and reduce the chance of a colony abandoning its roost due to predation threats.
Future-proofing against impacts of climate change VWT has been introducing a range of measures in its bat reserves that will help to protect the roosts from extremes of temperature. These include spiral hibernation chambers, hot boxes in maternity roosts as well as a range of perching structures and substrates that together offer a range of microclimates that help bats to deal with changes in temperature and humidity.
Baffle and metal sheeting prevent owls entering a bat roost. [Add video from high Marks Barn]
Working in partnerships and commmunities
How you can get involved
VWT will be working with local communities and volunteers in a variety of projects and roles, including developing a network of 'Tower Guardians' to look after the new bat towers and bat roost monitors to carry out seasonal bat counts or to maintain the roosts and surrounding habitats. Watch this space for more information or register your interest with Jenny O'Neill, Lesser Horseshoe Bat Conservation Officer.
Jenny O'Neill
Lesser Horseshoe Project Officer
Get in touch
Supported by
Partners through funding and resources
Welsh Government National Lottery Heritage Fund
The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the largest funder for the UK’s heritage. Using money raised by National Lottery players we support projects that connect people and communities to heritage.
