Common Pipistrelle Bat (pipistrellus pipistrellus)

We usually imagine bats to be quite big, but these bats are tiny! They have a maximum wing span of 20cm and are so small that they would fit into a matchbox!

Like all bats, they are nocturnal, roosting in trees during the day, and only coming out at dusk to feed. Their diet consists of small insects like midges, mayflies, moths and other flying insects. In fact, it's estimated that a pipistrelle bat can eat 3000 insects in one night! They catch their prey whilst in flight and often hunt over water. Bats do not have good eyesight, but they use echo location to navigate. The bat sends out a series of high-pitched sounds (which humans can't hear) and listens to how it is reflected back to them, to work out where prey is and what obstacles are in their way. That's why bats have big ears!

In the UK there are an estimated three million pipistrelle bats, so if you are walking at dusk, look out for them whizzing around. They are really fun and exciting to watch. 

Like humans, bats are mammals. The female bats give birth to live young. A baby bat is known as a pup and usually it needs three weeks to grow before it is able to fly.

In winter there aren't many flying insects for them to eat, so bats hibernate (although they will still come out on warmer days).

Scotswood Garden is an excellent habitat for bats as we have lots of trees for roosting and lots of insects for food. You can help bats by putting a bat box in your garden and making sure that you are encouraging insects into your garden too.