There are few better ways to end a day in the countryside than sitting outside as the light fades, listening for the first soft flutter of a bat. These remarkable animals are not only a sign of a healthy landscape — they are also part of our rural heritage, roosting in old barns, church towers, veteran trees and hedgerow oaks. Encouraging them into your garden at dusk is practical, rewarding conservation. It begins with three simple steps: planting night-scented flowers, reducing pesticides, and putting up a suitable roost box away from bright lights.

Dusk, Bats and the Rural Garden

Britain has seventeen resident bat species, from the tiny common pipistrelle to the impressive noctule and the water-loving Daubenton’s bat. At dusk they emerge to feed on moths, midges, beetles and other insects, often following hedgerows, woodland edges and streams as they commute from roost to feeding ground. A rural garden that sits near ancient woodland, a pond or a hedgerow network is already in a strong position. The aim is to make it better: a place where insects thrive, where darkness is protected, and where a bat can find a warm, safe crevice to roost by day.

You do not need acres. Even a modest garden, managed with wildlife in mind, can become a valuable stepping stone between larger habitats. That matters because bats need connected countryside — not isolated pockets of good habitat.

Plant a Night Larder

Bats are insectivores, so the most direct way to encourage them is to encourage moths and other night-flying insects. Plant flowers that release their scent after dark, when bats are active. Good choices include evening primrose, night-scented stock, honeysuckle, jasmine and tobacco plant. These are especially valuable because they attract moths, which form the bulk of many bats’ diets.

Mix in day-flowering plants that keep insects coming throughout the seasons. Lavender, marjoram, oregano, mint and chives are excellent for nectar, while native wildflowers such as knapweed, scabious, foxglove and ox-eye daisy support a wider range of insects. If you have space, a small pond is one of the best additions you can make: it will draw in midges, caddisflies and other invertebrates, and Daubenton’s bats may hunt low over the water.

• Plant in generous drifts rather than single pots, so scent and insects are easy to find.
• Choose single, open flowers where nectar is accessible; double blooms often offer little.
• Leave some seedheads and hollow stems standing over winter for insects to shelter in.
• Add a log pile, leaf litter or a wild corner to boost insect numbers.

Cut Pesticides and Let the Lawn Grow Wild

A garden that is tidy to the point of sterility will support few insects, and therefore few bats. Reduce or eliminate insecticides, slug pellets and weedkillers. Many pesticides do not just remove the target species; they remove the caterpillars, beetles and flies that bats rely on. If you must deal with a pest, use physical methods, barriers, or simply tolerate a little damage. A few nibbled leaves are a small price for a garden full of life.

Allow parts of the lawn to grow longer, especially along hedges and fences. Longer grass supports more invertebrates and gives bats a richer hunting area. Compost, mulch with garden waste, and avoid peat-based products. The more organic matter and structure you build into the soil, the more insects it will sustain — and the more bats will visit at dusk.

Switch Off Unnecessary Lighting

Light pollution is one of the quieter threats to bats. Bright security lights, floodlights and dusk-to-dawn lamps can deter bats from roosts and feeding routes, and may make them more vulnerable to predators. If you need outdoor lighting, keep it low and directed downwards. Use warm-white bulbs, timers, motion sensors and hoods or shields so the light does not spill into trees, hedges or along flight paths.

Think of dark corridors as essential infrastructure. A bat should be able to travel from its roost to your garden and on to the wider countryside without crossing a blaze of white light. Curtains, blinds and simple good manners with exterior lighting all help. If a light is not needed, switch it off.

Put Up a Roost Box — and Site It Carefully

A well-made bat box can provide the warm, tight crevice that many species need. Use untreated, rough-sawn timber; treated wood and paint can be harmful. A typical box is around 60 cm tall, 30 cm wide and 15–20 cm deep, with a crevice of 2–3 cm and a roughened landing area below the entrance. A sloped roof and a rear mounting plate make it practical and weatherproof.

Positioning is everything. Mount the box 3–5 metres high on a building or a mature tree, with a clear drop below so bats can take off easily. Face it south or south-west to catch warmth, but shelter it from prevailing wind and driving rain. Avoid placing it directly above a window or door, and keep it well away from bright lights. Two boxes on different aspects — one warmer, one cooler — give bats a choice of microclimate.

• Do not open a box once bats are using it; all UK bats and their roosts are legally protected.
• Check from the ground for droppings or staining, but never disturb occupants.
• If bats move in, leave them be and seek advice from your local bat group or statutory conservation body.

Watching, Recording and Living with Bats

The best way to enjoy bats is simply to sit quietly at dusk with a torch kept low and a notebook to hand. You may hear the soft social calls of pipistrelles, or watch a noctule drop from a high branch. A bat detector can reveal species you would otherwise miss, turning a silent evening into a chorus of clicks and buzzes. Record what you see and send your sightings to your local bat group; these records help protect roosts and guide conservation work.

Keep cats indoors from dusk, and make sure ponds have gentle escape ramps so bats that skim the surface can climb out if they fall in. Never handle a grounded bat; call for expert help. Above all, think beyond the garden gate. Hedgerows, veteran trees, field margins and woodland edges are the countryside’s bat highways. By planting, cutting chemicals and guarding the dark, you are not just inviting bats in — you are helping to keep a whole rural heritage alive.