14 Apr Maximising occupation of bat boxes
Since 2008 Hannah Bilston, Principal Ecologist, has been monitoring bat populations in Finemere Wood, an ancient woodland in Buckinghamshire. The project was initiated by the North Bucks Bat Group (NBBG) in 2003 and formed the study site for Hannah’s MSc research into factors affecting bat box selection within Finemere Wood between 2009 and 2011. More recently, Hannah has been investigating ways to maximise occupation rates of bat boxes by maternity roosts of woodland bats.
A summary of the recent history of research at Finemere Wood is presented in the following News and Views article, including key findings. The article also identifies some potential factors for consideration when installing bat boxes in woodland settings.