Come along to Boston Manor Park on Tuesday 2nd April or Thursday 9th May evenings for an enchanting experience on one of the highly sought-after free Bat Walks, where the mysterious world of bats comes to life! While you might not see a live sighting, the thriving bat population in Boston Manor Park might just grace you with their presence. Embrace the magic of the night and embark on a journey to witness these captivating creatures in their natural habitat. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this thrilling adventure!
Bats are a vital part of our native wildlife, accounting for almost a third of all mammal species in the UK and occupy a wide range of habitats, such as wetlands, woodlands, farmland, as well as urban areas.
Did you know?
- There are more than 1,300 bat species.
- Bats are found almost everywhere on Earth.
- Some species weigh less than a penny, while others have a whopping 1.8m wingspan.
- Bats sleep upside-down.
- Most bats use sound to ‘see’ the world around them.
- Ancient civilizations worshipped bat-like gods.
- The scientific name for bats is Chiroptera, which means ‘hand wing’.
- Bats can live more than 30 years and can fly at speeds of 60 miles per hour (or more!).
- Bats can find their food in total darkness.
- Bats can eat up to 1,200 mosquitoes an hour.
Make your garden bat friendly
Bats are a sign of a green and healthy environment, so creating a garden that’s good for bats will also be good for people. Heres some advice from the Bats Conservation Trust:
- Plant night-scented flowers
- Build a pond
- Let your garden go a little wild
- Put up a bat box
- Create linear features i.e hedgerows/treelines (check out the Bats and Trees poster)
- Reduce or remove artificial lighting
- Keep cats indoors at night
Bats use a variety of landscapes or habitats throughout the year as they feed, roost and travel. They use hunting grounds or foraging habitats to find food and commuting habitats to travel between roosts and foraging habitats. All these tips above will help bats.
Bat Walk: When:
On Tuesday 2nd April at 7.40 pm and Thursday 9th May at 8.40 pm,
Location:
Boston Park, by the picnic tables by the lake.
For more information contact the Natural Park Manager, Vanessa Hampton by email BostonManorPark@hounslow.gov.uk or phone 07816 067883.
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