Sites qualifying as having sufficient significance for consideration for Local Wildlife Site status will include one or more of:

• Any breeding site that regularly supports a significant colony of bats
  [>100 soprano pipistrelle; >60 common pipistrelle; or >30 any other bats]
• Any hibernation site which regularly supports ten bats or two or more bat_species
• Any series of smaller sites which together meet the above criteria
• Any roost site which regularly supports at least three bat species
• Any habitat area which regularly supports four or more foraging bat species

Local Wildlife Sites primarily designated
for their Bat roosts

54 Old Mill Lane Culvert Bat Roost

61 Romticle Viaduct/Thurgoland Tunnel

Other Local Wildlife Sites with notable bat roost or foraging areas

22 Stainborough Park

23 Rockley Woods

24 Worsbrough Reservoir

38 Old Moor & Wath Ings

46 Elsecar Reservoir

Distribution of Bat species in Barnsley

Bats are found in a range of habitats including urban areas, farmland and woodland, and near water.

There are two Local Wildlife Sites designated for bats in Barnsley and a number of others that have bats roosting and can be seen feeding. [See below]

Bat species distribution

Bat species in Barnsley

Common Pipistrelle: common, widespread

Soprano Pipistrelle: fairly common

Nathusius’ Pipistrelle: very rare

Daubenton’s: fairly common, widespread

Brown long eared: localised

Natterer’s: localised

Noctule: uncommon

Whiskered: uncommon

Leisler’s: scarce

Brandt’s very rare

National trends indicate that Common Pipistrelle, Soprano Pipistrelle and Natterer’s bats have increased in numbers since 1999. Other bat species have probably remained stable. [There’s not enough data for identifying a trend for Brandt’s.]