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Wildlife
- Close
- - We protect wildlife in Britain and around the world by bringing our most threatened species back from the brink of extinction. We do this through ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Wild places
- Close
- - Some habitats contain such a richness of life that we need to protect them at all odds. We are working to preserve ancient woodlands, orchards and wood pastures and parklands, as well as the countless species they support.
What we do
- Close
- - Everything we do is based on scientific evidence. We gather this through surveys, which you can take part in, and by awarding research grants to the most inspiring scientists worldwide. This evidence guides our conservation efforts and is shared through our events and publications.
Who we are
- Close
- - People’s Trust for Endangered Species was set up in 1977 to save our wildlife. We are governed by a board of volunteer trustees and our team of staff are passionate about protecting endangered species and places.
Success stories
- Close
- - We strive to bring our most threatened species in the UK and around the world back from the brink of extinction. Our successes come from ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Get involved
- Close
- - There are so many ways you can help save endangered species. Fancy taking part in a survey, joining us on a wildlife event or becoming a regular supporter?
Shop
- Close
- - Support our work in our shop with a range of charity gifts, home-ware, cards and more. 100% of the profits go directly to help wildlife both in the UK an overseas.
Donate
- Close
- - There is nothing natural about the alarming rate at which we are losing animals and their homes. It is absolutely avoidable. We can stop the loss of our wildlife – but we need your support. You can act now by choosing to give to our cause. Thank you.

One donation, twice the impact. From the 18th – 25th April your donation to protect ancient woodland will be doubled through the Big Give.

Home // Research grants // Our UK mammal projects // Impact of woodland coppicing on bats

Impact of woodland coppicing on bats

Very little is known about the impact coppicing has on bats in the UK, many of which have seen drastic declines. This research is changing that.

Traditional woodland management

Coppicing is a traditional woodland management technique. Young tree stems are repeatedly cut down near the ground. This encourages new shoots, and increases the age structure of the wood and the life of the trees. More light also reaches the ground. All of which benefits butterflies, other insects and hazel dormice.

However, the impact on woodland bats is less clear. This is because some bats may thrive on the greater insect availability. But other species may find it too open for foraging and lose places to roost.

Woodland coppicing comparison

We’re funding a six-year investigation to find out more about the effects of woodland coppicing on bats. Led by the volunteer Cambridgeshire Bat Group, two local woods will be compared. One is already being gradually coppiced, and coppicing will begin at the other. Bat detectors will identify which bat species are using each woodland. The comparison should therefore reveal how the changing woodland structure impacts different bat species. As a result, we can give confident, sound advice to foresters and landowners on keeping their woods bat-friendly.

Latest update

Thanks to your kind donations last year in 2018, the team have been able to buy ten specialist bat detectors. Since last Halloween, the detectors have been put out across the two woods so that they can see which bat species are using the different areas, and what level of activity there is, before they start the woodland coppicing work this winter.