Barbastelle bat  (Barbastella barbastellus)

The UK population is estimated to number around 5000 individuals, the overall trend in numbers is not known (3). The threats to the barbastelle bat are not fully understood (3), however it is very sensitive to disturbance (2). Factors such as the loss and fragmentation of the preferred ancient broadleaved woodland habitat and loss of roost sites will be likely to have strong negative effects on the population. Furthermore, insect prey availability may have been greatly reduced by fertiliser use and intensive grazing leading to a loss of habitat complexity and associated diversity (3).

The barbastelle bat is a priority species under English Nature's Species Recovery Programme and has a Species Action Plan that aims to enhance the current population by improving the age structure of woodlands to maximise roosting and foraging sites. Some of the hibernation sites occur in SSSIs or have been protected by grilling. The National Bat Monitoring Programme aims to determine base-line data on this species, and in Norfolk, Surrey and Devon, ongoing research aims to find roosts and determine more detailed habitat requirements of the barbastelle bat (3).