Creating Bat Friendly Gardens
Gardens can be important places for bats, providing food, shelter, and safe routes for flying between roosts and feeding areas. Even small changes in a garden can make a real difference to local wildlife, especially in towns and villages where natural habitats can be limited. This blog explains how people in Scotland can support bats through simple, practical actions that benefit many other species at the same time.
Why gardens matter for bats
Bats feed on night-flying insects such as moths, beetles, midges, and craneflies. Gardens with plants that attract insects give bats reliable places to hunt. Gardens can also offer sheltered corners, gaps between stones, mature trees, and open flight paths. Together, these features help bats move safely across built-up landscapes.
Because many bat species travel along hedgerows, tree lines, and waterways, well connected gardens can create small but valuable wildlife corridors across neighbourhoods.
Choosing plants that support night-flying insects
Plants that bloom at different times of year help insects remain active for longer periods, which in turn supports bats. Fragrant flowers, pale blossoms, and native species are often attractive to moths. People do not need large borders or specialist planting. Even a few well selected plants can help build a healthier night-time environment.
Good options for Scottish gardens include:
honeysuckle
heather
dog rose
evening primrose
verbena
campion species
These plants provide scent, shelter, and nectar for moths and other insects that bats rely on.
Managing artificial lighting
Excessive lighting can make it harder for bats to move through gardens. Bright or poorly directed lights can create barriers that some species will avoid. Reducing unnecessary lighting is one of the simplest and most effective actions people can take.
Helpful steps include:
using low level, warm coloured lighting
positioning lights so they do not shine directly onto hedges, trees, or rooflines
using motion sensors with short timers
switching lights off when not needed
Reducing lighting also benefits other nocturnal wildlife and can improve views of the night sky.
Creating shelter and structure
Gardens with a mix of features provide more opportunities for bats and insects. Simple additions can make a space more wildlife friendly.
These include:
allowing some areas to grow naturally rather than mowing or trimming everything
keeping old trees where safe to do so
planting hedges instead of using solid fencing
leaving small piles of logs or branches to support insects
Bat boxes can also be added where suitable, although they should be placed in quiet, sheltered positions and mounted securely. Bat boxes do not replace natural roosts but can provide alternative spaces when conditions are suitable.
Water features and flight paths
A small pond or water bowl can attract insects, which in turn attracts bats. Open flight paths are equally important. Keeping a clear route through the garden, ideally along a hedge or tree line, allows bats to navigate safely.
Removing high obstructions and avoiding very tall solid fencing can help maintain these routes.
People sometimes underestimate how much difference a garden can make to local wildlife. Even small steps, taken by many households, help build healthier habitats across towns and rural areas. Creating bat friendly gardens is simple, inexpensive, and beneficial for biodiversity as a whole.
With thoughtful planting, reduced lighting, and greater awareness of roosting needs, gardens across Scotland can become valuable spaces for bats throughout the year.
References
Bat Conservation Trust 2023. Encouraging Bats in Your Garden. Bat Conservation Trust, London.
NatureScot 2020. Bats: Licensing and Guidance. NatureScot, Inverness.
RHS 2024. Plants for Pollinators. Royal Horticultural Society, Edinburgh.