There has been evidence of bats in Wollaton Dovecote for several years. Having found a dead one indoors in July 2023 we contacted the Nottinghamshire Bat Group who carried out a survey. A group of Wollaton Village Dovecote Museum volunteers had a fascinating evening discovering more about our bats. John (the bat man) filmed the bats in both rooms upstairs as well as outside. As a result of the survey, we know that there are at least two species in residence, the Common Pipistrelle Bat and the Brown Long Eared Bat.

Whilst Batman might have left Wollaton Hall (in Christopher Nolan's film The Dark Knight Rises), bats still live here!

Common Pipistrelle Bat

 

Brown Long Eared Bat

 

Soprano Pipistrelle Bat
(was seen on the infrared camera flying outside the building)

Further information can be found on these links from the Bat Conservation Trust: 

• common-pipistrelle-bat.pdf
• brown-long-eared-bat.pdf
• soprano-pipistrelle-bat.pdf