Britain’s bats are prospering

BATS are doing well on the UK’s canals and rivers, with a 9 per cent increase in numbers spotted in this year’s annual wildlife survey, British Waterways said.

The prospect of another cold winter will be good for bats, according to ecologists, as it will help them to hibernate properly.

In the annual survey run by the organisation, the most commonly seen species was the mallard duck, followed by the Canada goose. Butterflies came in third, up from tenth last year.