Isle of Wight is the most important area for woodland bats in Europe

13/11/2009 11:50:12 Rare bats thriving in ancient woodlands
November 2009. Two of England's rarest woodland bats, Bechstein's and Barbastelle, which little more than a decade ago were known from only a few sites in the UK, have now been found in many more woodlands on the Isle of Wight, three of which are managed by the Forestry Commission.

Most important area for woodland bats in Europe
In a recent study that combined the expertise of ecologists, scientists, foresters and bat conservation groups, the island was identified as the most important area for woodland bats in Europe.

There are now more than 20 Bechstein's and six Barbastelle maternity roosts, which is a dramatic improvement from 1998 when the UK Biodiversity Action Plan identified only one known maternity roost across the whole of the UK for each of these species.

World's largest known Barbastelle maternity roost
Within one split ancient oak in Parkhurst Forest can be found the world's largest single maternity roost for Barbastelle bats, with over 115 bats. The forest is also a rich haven for red squirrels, woodpeckers and the last haunt of the rare Pearl-bordered Fritillary on the Island.

The growth in the bat population comes on the back of the Forestry Commission's efforts in successfully maintaining the forest as a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It has also been shaping the wider landscape through the Jigsaw Project, which has been linking up a fragmented countryside.

Jay Doyle, Ecologist at the Forestry Commission, who has responsibility for bats in SE England, said: "It came as a pleasing surprise that this study found the bats to be much more widely distributed than was previously thought. Clearly, our work in maintaining the forest has established conditions that are ideal for the bats, offering them a welcoming and varied habitat."

"In Parkhurst, a stand of conifer trees has provided much needed protection against the prevailing cold winds and the ancient oak trees offer crevices for the Barbastelle to establish their roosts. Parkhurst Forest is connected to the wider countryside which gives the bats sheltered routes for their daily journeys of 20km or so, in search of food."

"Since 2001, the Forestry Commission's Woodscape programme has been implemented on the Island. This programme of Ancient and Native Woodland rejuvenation should, in the longer term, create a more hospitable landscape for these bats and many other species."

Other factors that may have encouraged this thriving bat population on the Isle of Wight are the warmer climate relative to the mainland, the lack of invasive species such as the grey squirrel and the absence of deer that would otherwise be grazing on bat foraging habitat.