Bats are among the UK’s most fascinating mammals: mysterious, nocturnal, and vital to the health of our ecosystems. From hedgerows to city streets, they patrol the night skies, eating countless insects and acting as nature’s pest controllers. While comprehensive population trends are complex and variable, there are signs that many bat species in the UK face pressures from human activity and changing landscapes.

A changing landscape: challenges for bats

The Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) highlights several factors which are putting British bats under pressure; many linked to how we manage the land:

  1. Intensive agriculture

Decades of intensified farming have reshaped the countryside. Hedgerows – vital “green corridors” for bats – have been removed, fields have become more uniform, and insect abundance has dropped. Slow-flying species like horseshoe bats are particularly sensitive to this, avoiding heavily farmed land and losing key foraging areas.

  1. Pesticides and chemicals

Insecticides reduce the insects bats feed on, while some chemicals may directly harm bats through contamination of the food chain. For young bats, even small reductions in food availability can impact survival.

  1. Loss of roosting sites

Bats rely on old trees, roof spaces, and even caves for roosting. Building renovations, timber treatment, and other human activities have reduced suitable roosts. While UK law protects bats and their roosts, accidental disturbance remains a threat.

  1. Fragmented landscapes

Bats need safe commuting routes to move between roosts and foraging grounds. Gaps in these corridors force bats into longer or riskier paths, increasing energy costs and vulnerability to predators.

The stakes

A decline in the number and diversity of bat populations is not just a conservation issue; they are natural pest controllers. Fewer bats could mean more insects, more crop damage, and a heavier reliance on chemical interventions.

Artificial light and its impact on bats

Artificial lighting is another environmental stressor for bats. Streetlights, security lamps, and illuminated buildings may seem harmless, but for bats, light at night can be deadly. The BCT highlights several ways in which light pollution disrupts bat behaviour, habitat use, and survival.

  1. Reduced foraging time

Bats often delay or avoid leaving roosts when entrances are lit, missing critical feeding hours. For species that rely on peak insect activity just after dusk, this can limit food intake for both adults and their young.

  1. Abandoned roosts and entrapment

Brightly lit roosts can lead to abandonment or reluctance to exit. This “entombing” effect is not just harmful to bats — it also has legal implications, as UK law protects bats and their homes.

  1. Loss of hunting grounds

Slow-flying species, such as Myotis and horseshoe bats, avoid lit areas entirely. Artificial lights can render entire foraging zones unusable, creating a “vacuum effect” where insects are drawn to light but bats cannot access them.

  1. Disrupted commuting routes

Bats rely on dark corridors like hedgerows to navigate safely. Lighting these routes forces bats into longer, more dangerous journeys or makes them abandon areas altogether, reducing habitat connectivity.

  1. Predation risk

Some fast-flying species exploit insects drawn to lights. But feeding under lamps comes with risks: birds of prey, like peregrine falcons, have been observed hunting bats in illuminated areas.

  1. Landscape-level impacts

Over time, artificial lighting can favour “light-tolerant” bats, while disadvantaging sensitive species. The result is reduced diversity, fewer slow-flying bats, and potential ecosystem imbalance.

Solutions: how we can help UK bats

Fortunately, there are steps that can reduce the impact of light and habitat loss:

  • Smart lighting design: Use low-intensity, directional lighting, avoid blue/UV-rich lights, and shield lamps to minimise spill.
  • Protect roosts: Ensure renovations, tree felling, or building works account for bats. Avoid lighting roost entrances.
  • Restore habitat: Hedgerow planting, maintaining woodland edges, and creating dark corridors can reconnect bat habitats.
  • Support agri-environment schemes: Farms that retain hedgerows, reduce pesticide use, and maintain wildlife-friendly margins which benefit bats and biodiversity.
  • Raise awareness: Citizens can switch off unnecessary lights, report roosts, and support bat conservation organisations.

Bat-friendly lighting: our approach

At Solareye, we believe that lighting shouldn’t come at the expense of wildlife. That’s why we developed the Solareye80 Bat Hat – a solution designed to provide safe, visible lighting for people while keeping disruption to bats to an absolute minimum.

What makes the Solareye80 Bat Hat different?

Our Bat Hat is a variation of our standard Solareye80 ground light, fitted with a cowl (“hat”) that reduces upwards light spillage by 98%. This means the light illuminates the path where it’s needed, without flooding the surrounding area or interfering with bat flight paths. Despite the reduction in light spill, it still provides excellent visibility for pedestrians and cyclists, ensuring safety and functionality. Learn more about the Solareye80 Bat Hat >

A few years after the Bat Hat was launched, we went one step further and introduced a warm white (2,700K) version, which ticks even more of the ecological boxes. Learn why ecologists recommend warm white outdoor lighting >

Endorsement from ecologists and lighting professionals

  • The Institution of Lighting Professionals (ILP) has featured the Solareye80 Bat Hat in its Bats and Artificial Lighting at Night guidance (Guidance Note GN08/23).
  • The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) recognises it in its UK Bat Mitigation Guidelines. In particular, the Solareye80 Bat Hat is highlighted in a case study (Case Study 37) as a “sensitive and bat-safe approach to lighting” along a riverside, balancing pedestrian safety with minimal impact on a local bat colony.
  • The BCT even helped evaluate the product. With their own ecologists conducting surveys post-installation and finding “no disruption to the bats” near their colonies.

Real-world applications

  • In Worcestershire, a riverside path near a lesser horseshoe bat colony was lit using Solareye80 lights fitted with the Bat Hat. The design helped maintain a “dark corridor” essential for these bats, who are especially sensitive to light and tend to fly low. Read the full case study here >
  • Along Wolverhampton canal towpaths, over a thousand Solareye80 units with Bat Hats were installed to guide pedestrians and cyclists without overwhelming the nocturnal environment. Read the full case study here >

Solar powered ecologically friendly lighting from Solareye

We create lighting solutions that work for people and wildlife. By reducing unnecessary upward light spill, our Bat Hat helps preserve essential commuting and foraging routes for bats, particularly species that are most sensitive to artificial light. Being solar powered and off-grid also makes it a practical, sustainable option for greenways, parks, and riverside paths where traditional street lighting would be either disruptive or expensive.

For more information on the Solareye80 Bat Hat ground light, or to discuss a potential scheme, don’t hesitate to contact our team today.

Further reading:

A path through a wooded area illuminated by solar powered bollard lighting

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