In This Issue
Woodlodge win Choice Marketing Sundries Supplier of the Year Award
Wyevale Chairman backs a strong future for independent garden centres
Neudorff signs exclusive distribution agreement with DLF Seeds
September ends tamely but still the best since 2014
Stanmore and Woking win Squire's group's garden design 'friendly'
Chelsea Gold Medal garden finds new home at Eden Project
Glee 2019: sustainability and retail theatre drive optimism
'Audience with Milly Johnson’ event raises £850 for Tong GC's charity of the year
Santa's on his way...on a bus, carriage, classic car... and a fire engine
Promote the wellbeing benefits of autumn gardening
Spare a thought for the bats this Hallowe'en
Glee’s owners rebrand as Hyve
GIMA confirms two Knowledge Exchange Workshops for its autumn schedule
Plant Area Manager
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Garden products see September growth for first time in six years
Squire's stage 'plantathon' for World Mental Health Day this week
Wet weather hits plant sales
Chief plant officer to update nurserymen on plant health programme
Growing media sales suffer in the rain
Pooh tells the story of Christmas
Foundation with £100k scholarship heritage urges colleges to get on board
The best of last week's
September heading for a record high
Dobbies now offer a free plastic pot and tray return service
Perrywood celebrates its first birthday at Sudbury
Blue Diamond donate £6,000 to the Rose Society
New Horticulture Manager for HTA
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Garden Centre Photo Tours
Garden Centre Photo Tour - RHS Wisley New Plant Centre
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Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
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Situations Vacant
Plant Area Manager
Almondsbury Garden Centre, Bristol
 
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Spare a thought for the bats this Hallowe'en

As a corporate supporter of the Bat Conservation Trust, CJ Wildlife is working with the charity to raise awareness of these beautiful nocturnal mammals that are so well documented at this time of year.

 

The relationship between bats and Hallowe’en is thought to date back to ancient times where people used to gather around huge bonfires to ward off evil spirits?  The heat from the bonfires attracted a host of flying insects which in turn attracted the bats. The silhouette of the bats from the firelight soon became a feature of the Halloween tradition.

 

Despite bats commonly being portrayed as vampire-like creatures in horror movies, they actually play an important role in pollination and seed dispersal and are therefore vital to preserving our environment. UK bats eat only insects! A common pipistrelle will eat up to 3,000 midges and other small insects every night although itself only weighing the same as a 20p coin! Many of our UK species are actually very small and vulnerable, and this time of the year are not beyond needing help.

 

Bats will be preparing for hibernation by spending increasing periods of time in a state of deep sleep, known as torpor. A bat’s body temperature lowers and its metabolic rate slows, meaning it uses less energy and can survive on the fat stored up instead of trying to forage for food. On mild nights they may still be active and venture out for food if the need arises but only under the cover of darkness.

 

Not all bats hibernate but those who do seek out a roost that has a constant cool and moist atmosphere, such as a cellar or cave (as preferred by the greater and lesser horseshoe bats). The end of November will mark the beginning of the long winter hibernation, and we won’t see them on the wing again until March or April. 

 

Remember that in the UK bats are protected species under the Wildlife & Countryside Acts so should not be disturbed, especially during hibernation or breeding periods.

 

The UK is home to 18 species of bat, but sadly most have suffered decline in recent years with habitat loss thought to be one of the major causes. In the UK and Ireland, it’s likely that bats would roost and hibernate within most types of bat box as they need a stable, cool temperature and very high humidity to overwinter.  

 

The garden can be a good environment for bats when additional bat boxes are provided and suitable extra food sources offered by gardening in a way that favours them. A pond and night-scented flowers are simple ways of making a practical difference by providing valuable water and attracting their favourite insects. You should aim to Minimise light pollution. (Pictured:CJ Almodovar bat box)

 

Bat boxes are best sited in a sturdy tree or building where bats have been seen or are known to feed, in a sheltered spot facing south or southwest to absorb the direct daily sunlight.  Position it as high as possible between 2-5m with a clear 'flight-path' for access.

 

Crevice roosting species are the ones best served by bat boxes as they cannot make their own roost and use bat boxes as an alternative to limited natural habitats.

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