The latest report from scientists on how the UK’s bats are faring shows continuing slow recovery from huge historical declines for several of our 17 breeding species, but some species are still a cause for concern.
The latest results of the National Bat Monitoring Programme (NBMP) have recently been released, including data collected up to and including summer 2025. Run by the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT), in partnership with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), the NBMP includes survey results gathered by more than 700 dedicated volunteers, monitoring around 7,500 bat roosts, field and hibernation sites and waterways.
The results show that six of the 11 regularly monitored bat species have increased across Great Britain since 1999, with five species remaining stable. However, patterns at the country-level and over the short-term (the last five years) may give more cause for concern.
Only two of the 11 species have increased in GB over the last five years (the Lesser Horseshoe Bat and the Soprano Pipistrelle). The Lesser Horseshoe Bat is one of our smallest bat species and is particularly affected by disturbance to roosts and intensive agricultural practices. Whilst populations have been doing better in Wales, the Lesser Horseshoe is no longer increasing in England.
There have also been recent declines in Brown Long-eared Bat populations in Wales, and in Daubenton’s Bat populations in Northern Ireland since 2019.
Monitoring bats for nearly 30 years
The NBMP has been monitoring bats for 29 years, but it is important to consider these changes amidst earlier historical declines. Kit Stone, CEO of the Bat Conservation Trust which leads on monitoring, said: “The NBMP analysis only reflects recent changes in bat populations. Prior to 1999 when monitoring began, bat populations suffered substantial historic declines. Legislation and conservation actions have played a critical role in allowing bat populations to recover, and it is essential these efforts continue.”
The UK has some of the best species-monitoring schemes in the world and without the robust, long-term evidence base that this scheme provides, it would not be possible to understand the scale of declines, track the progress of recovery, or identify where conservation action is most urgently needed.
Steve Wilkinson, Director of Ecosystem Evidence and Advice at JNCC said: “The NBMP is a vital tool in our efforts to protect and restore bat populations across the UK. Twenty-nine years of consistent, high-quality data give scientists and policymakers the foundation they need to make informed decisions. It is exactly this kind of sustained monitoring, by dedicated volunteers, that allows us to move beyond short-term snapshots and see the fuller picture of how our native species are faring."
The NBMP is one of JNCC’s 11 schemes that monitor species throughout the UK. These monitoring schemes provide the evidence base that underpins effective conservation action. They are critical to helping us understand how nature is faring and whether policies impacting conservation are being successful. These insights on the impact of policies on species, combined with other monitoring data, will also enable us to project the likely impact of conservation polices and their effectiveness.
Fostering inclusivity – monitoring bats is for everyone
The BCT has continued its work to make bat conservation more inclusive, recognising that people from ethnic minority backgrounds remain under-represented in nature volunteering.
Research commissioned with people who had not previously engaged in conservation found strong interest in nature and bats, but highlighted barriers including limited representation, unfamiliar terminology and perceptions that conservation spaces are not for everyone. The findings are helping shape new approaches to engagement, including community partnerships, more inclusive communications and flexible opportunities to get involved in bat conservation.
Kit added: “In recent years it has been particularly good to see an uptick in the diversity and range of people who now take part, including many more people from disadvantaged and under-represented backgrounds. We have been working directly with a lot of groups and individuals to increase interest, and we would still love to welcome more.”
The Bat Conservation Trust are calling for volunteers to continue to support this important scheme. For more information on how to get involved, visit the Bat Conservation Trust website (Explore NBMP Surveys).
The National Bat Monitoring Programme (NBMP) is run by the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT), in partnership with JNCC, and supported and steered by Natural England, Nature Resources Wales, NatureScot and Northern Ireland Environment Agency. The NBMP is indebted to all volunteers who contribute data to the programme.
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