Monitoring plan for one of UK's rarest bats

One of the UK's rarest bat species is to be monitored at a site in Hertfordshire, as part of a new conversation project.

Specialist equipment is being installed at the Serge Hill Project - an old orchard in Bedmond near Abbots Langley - to help create the right conditions for the barbastelle to thrive.

A survey published in 2024 recorded the elusive mammal, known for its distinctive pug-like face and dark fur, flying above the site alongside seven other bat species.

"They are a species that many people will never get the chance to see," said Sam Radonich, who is from the project.

"So knowing they're using this part of Hertfordshire makes the work we're doing even more important."

The barbastelle relies on suitable roosting and feeding habitats, including wetlands and woodlands, to survive.

The new conservation project, supported by Affinity Water, will use bat tagging and wildlife cameras to learn more about the species' movements and behaviour.

In Hertfordshire, the species is said to be particularly elusive, with a maternity colony discovered near Bishop's Stortford in 2012.

Surveys at Serge Hill have recorded a variety of bat activity.

Its gardens and surrounding land, which attract people and organisations looking to connect with nature and learn about gardening, have already created habitats for insects and other wildlife.

Radonich added: "We're hoping to learn much more about where they're roosting, how they're moving through the landscape and what we can do to create the right conditions for them to thrive and ultimately roost on site rather than just pass through.

"This is just the beginning of the project, but we're really excited about what we might discover over the coming months."

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