Guildford Is Going in to Bat, for Bats

Published on: 17 Apr, 2026
Updated on: 17 Apr, 2026

Bats like these soprano pipistrelles are an important part of our environment.

By Daisy Edwards

Today (April 17), is National Bat Appreciation Day, and Guildford Borough Council is using the day to shed light on the important role bats play in local ecosystems.

Often seen as scary creatures that only come out at night, bats are vital to keeping ecosystems running, and without them, the landscape would look very different.

Bats are vital in the UK as top nocturnal predators, consuming huge quantities of night-flying insects like midges and moths, reducing the need for pesticides.

However, bat populations across the UK have been declining rapidly.

Bat Conservation Trust

Sonia Reveley from Bat Conservation Trust, writing for the UK Government Forestry Commission, wrote: “A recent study looking at historic declines showed that one of our woodland specialist species, the barbastelle, declined by 99 per cent over several hundred years, beginning 500 years ago, likely triggered by the loss of woodland.”

Delivered by Guildford Borough Council’s Parks, Countryside, Assets and Property Services teams, with specialist advice from Surrey Bat Group, steps have been implemented to help bat populations thrive across the whole borough, with safe places to live, roost, and feed.

The project has seen the construction of bat roosts at Tyting Farm, where a small derelict building has been transformed into a bat haven in the form of an underground bunker, suitable for species like the soprano pipistrelle, common pipistrelle, and brown long-eared bat.

These new bat roosts should be usable for decades to come and are made out of special bat-friendly materials, with secure access points and monitoring systems that avoid causing disturbance to the populations.

Wider projects have started across Tyting Farm, including the creation of wildflower meadows and woodland areas for feeding. Thirty smaller nesting boxes have also been installed at Lakeside Nature Reserve.

Julian Higson, Joint Strategic Director of Housing, Communities and Environment at Guildford Borough Council, said: “National Bat Appreciation Day is a great opportunity to shine a light on the vital role bats play in our local environment. [The measures are] also safeguarding our local environment for future generations. This work reflects our long-term commitment to a greener Guildford for all.”