Bats at Barnet Environment Centre
For many years, we have seen bats enjoying our Nature Reserve, but last summer we decided to use the latest technology to find out exactly what species. We fastened an ‘AudioMoth’ to the big Oak, in the far north-west corner of the site, and set it running for five nights. This detector picks up ‘ultra-sound’ – these are the sounds emitted by bats which are way above the highest frequency that humans can hear. The bats shout out bursts at these frequencies and can detect reflections from anything ahead of them – maybe trees and hedges but also, importantly, tiny insects. They can therefore not only navigate their way around safely, but amazingly locate the insects and eat them in flight – it is estimated that a single bat can devour up to 1000 gnats, midges and mosquitoes each night!
Different bat species use this ‘echo-location’ at different frequencies, and have slightly different patterns to their ‘speech’. The AudioMoth has been programmed to record any ultrasound it picks up, and stores it. After five overnight recording sessions, we sent the AudioMoth back to Bat HQ, where they downloaded the recordings and analysed them.
We have been conducting Bat Surveys on an annual basis for some years, and we knew – using our rather basic but effective Bat monitors – that we have Common Pipistrelle and Soprano Pipistrelle bats on site, but it was very exciting for us to be told that two other species are around - from the Myotis and the Nyctalus groups. These are much rarer, and so we were very pleased that we provide suitable habitats for these creatures.
Report on BEC Summer Picnic, 22nd June 2025
On a lovely sunny but (thank goodness!) a bit cooler day, well over 200 visitors came together to have a PICNIC in the Centre garden.
There was a good mix of adults and children – some had heard about the event through WhatsApp messages or on our Facebook page, some parents had been brought by their children who had been on a school visit, others had responded to the flyers we had put up.
The many delicious cakes brought in by volunteers were quickly sold, and, given the warm weather, the ice creams and lollies proved very welcome.
There were two activities, which soon attracted crowds of families – pond-dipping and meadow sweeping.
Robyn arranged for volunteers to help supervise these on a rotating basis, and the enthusiasm shown by the children was wonderful to experience.
An added (unplanned!) attraction was a Ragwort plant feeding lots of Cinnabar Moth caterpillars – the children weren’t convinced that they had been supplied in orange and black strip as an advert for Barnet Football Club!
We were delighted that the Barnet Ukulele group were able to entertain us, with the decking acting as a perfect stage for their performance - their presence was much appreciated, and we thank them for joining us.
Many thanks are due to all the volunteers who gave their time before and during the event, and especially to Robyn for all the preparation and supervision on the day.
A Midsummer’s Day to remember!
o
