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Biodiversity and Gardening - How to Attract Nocturnal Creatures

How To Attract Nocturnal Creatures

Bats

All British bats feed on insects and they need a continuous supply throughout the summer. One pipistrelle bat can eat up to 3000 small insects such as midges a night so are a welcome natural pest control. Insects concentrate in warm sheltered habitats that resemble "Woodland Glades" so a combination of trees and shrubs are important in attracting bats. If space is limited silver birch and goat willow are quick growing and are host to a large number of insects. Long eared bats feed particularly on moths gleaning them from the surface of leaves. Many insects start life in fresh water emerging only as adults, so the creation of a pond or marsh is one of the best ways to attract feeding bats.

Another attractive way to encourage bats is to grow night scented flowers, which attract moths and night flying insects.

Bat boxes

As artificial tree holes bat boxes offer an additional roost site, but they cannot entirely replace natural tree holes. Boxes should be well-built: dry, rainproof and draught free. The wood should be no less the 25mm thick rough sawn to allow bats to crawl over the surfaces and untreated since wood preservatives can be harmful to bats. Unlike bird boxes the entrance should be a narrow slit 15-20mm wide placed underneath the box. Boxes should be placed as high as possible, in sheltered and wind free areas with up to three boxes per tree.

A wild corner with bramble which attracts night flying insects, tall grasses which encourages those insects that feed on grasses and undisturbed habitat or log piles left to rot which will become home to a host of insects can help to attract bats, while being important for other garden wildlife.

Hedgehog

Their preferred habitat is woodland edge or grassland areas with hedges and shrubs. This is why they are well adapted to domestic gardens, many of which resemble a woodland glade. Hedgehogs feed on slugs, spiders and other insects so they need an abundant food source and cover to breed and hibernate. They will often nest under sheds, hedges and piles of wood and they need plenty of dry leaves. A large pile of twigs and leaves in a shady area will also create a suitable hibernation site.

Tips

Don't use slug pellets which can poison hedgehogs. A beer trap, an empty yogurt pot inserted into the ground and filled with beer, can get rid of slugs in a hedgehog friendly way. An upturned plastic or wooden box covered in brick, wood or concrete placed in a quiet part of the garden against a bank and facing a way from north/north east winter winds can attract hedgehogs to hibernate.

Download the Biodiversity and Gardening - How to Attract Nocturnal Creatures Leaflet