Did you know there are over 1,000 species of bats on our incredible planet? In the UK, though, there are about 17 types of which the Common Pipistrelle is the, er, most common! Like all bats they have a good old snooze during the day and venture out to feed after dark – often managing to scoff around 3,000 insects each night!
If you fancy the idea of trying to spot a cloud or two (not the water droplet kind, bats of course – that's the collective noun!) on nightly missions then Kenwood House's series of bat-spotting evenings throughout the summer might be just what you're looking for!
Starting on Wednesday 23 June at 8.15pm you can position yourself in this beautiful parkland, join up with other bat fans to observe the Pipistrelle bats. You are will even be able to use detectors to pick up their echolocation as you watch them feeding over the pond.
Kenwood House is a popular place to visit in London. You could spend the day exploring the stunning gardens – the design of which was apparently influenced by great English landscape gardener
Humphry Repton – and then finish with an unusual and fascinating evening spotting bats. If you haven't visited before, then the English Heritage site provides some
exquisite photographs of the house and grounds so you can check out this beautiful location in advance of your trip.
If you're not going to be able to make this event, but wouldn't mind hearing what a Pipistrelle sounds like you can find out
here on the Bat Conservation Trust website. This page also contains a fact sheet on the Pipistrelle bat so you know what you're looking out for!
Fore more information about the event call Kenwood House on 0208 348 1286.
