Bat Event - Parish Church of All Saints, Wimbish

We were fortunate that the weather on the evening of Saturday, 14th May 2022 turned to be ideal for bat detecting. It was great to socialise with a BBQ before the bat talk. Roger and Sylvia Jiggins, from Essex Bat Group, had set up a table with leaflets and bat specimens that we were permitted to handle. Those of us that felt able to examine the bats at such close quarters marvelled at their size, fur, skin and skeletons.

56 of us, 7 of which were children, listened enthralled as Roger and Sylvia, with the aid of projected images, ably informed us about the species of bats which roost in Wimbish church. As dusk approached, they distributed bat detectors for us to use both in the church and out in the churchyard.

In the UK we are lucky enough to have 18 species of bat, 17 of which are known to be breeding here - that's almost a quarter of our mammal species.

Every summer, thousands of people venture out to experience the wonder of bats in their natural environment. Sadly, bat populations have suffered severe declines during the past century, but the Bat Conservation Trust and more than 100 local bat groups are working hard to help our bats hang on.

Bat species found in Wimbish Church

Amazingly, 6 species of bats roost in Wimbish Church.

These are: -

Common pipistrelle, also known as bandit pipistrelle due to a dark band across its face. They weigh the same as a 20p piece! These are the commonest and most widespread of all British bat species. They chase small insects on the wing and can consume up to 3,000 insects in one night! The ‘Pip’ was the bat that we picked up most easily with our bat detectors.

Soprano pipistrelle, so called because its echolocation call has a high frequency. There were a number of soprano pipistrelles located flying around the trees in the churchyard.

Natterer’s bat, will roost in crevices in beams or gaps in beam joists such as are found in Wimbish Church. Natterer’s bats were located with the bat detectors.

Brown long-eared bat, known as ‘whispering bats’ as their echolocation sounds are very quiet so that they are not detected by their prey. Their ears are adapted so they can hear sounds made by the insect’s movements. It can even hear a ladybird walking on a leaf!

Serotine (only found in 6 churches in Essex) is one of the largest bat species found in Britain. They are usually the first to appear in the evening, often emerging in good light. The serotine will feed around street lights and even catch prey from the ground.

Barbastelle (only found in 3 churches in Essex) is very rare. It has a distinctive pug-shaped nose and is dark in colour.