Your challenge: write some batty poetry :O)
Bat-detecting
Go outside at dusk (when it starts to get dark) and look out for bats.
Look for them feeding under street lights or floodlights, and over streams, ponds and rivers...
- Bats live all over the place, even in towns and cities
Try looking in your garden, or you could ask an adult to take you to a river or woodland
- If you are quiet, you might see bats flying above you
There are 18 different species of bats in the UK, but the most common is the pipistrelle bat that can eat 3000 insects in one night!
Can you imagine where bats might roost (sleep)? They like places like caves and tree hollows but can you think of the perfect place for bats?
tell us
Big and cute?
Some people think that bats are a bit scary. Bev thinks they're cute and fascinating to watch as they circle and swoop through the air.
The UK's biggest bat is the Noctule bat. Here's a video clip where you can see what it looks like close up.
What did you think of the noctule bat, spooky or cute?
tell us
Rhyme time?
Can you write a poem about bats? Bev wrote a poem about seeing bats above her tent!
I have seen a bat
It circled above my head
I was very excited at that,
Just before I went to bed
It brought along a friend
To play above my tent
I hoped their game would never end
Around and around they went
More bats arrived to play
I wanted to watch them all night
But I have to be awake during the day
While they sleep when it’s daylight
August turned into September
And homewards we all went
But I will always remember
The bats playing above my tent
Now it's your turn, the best bat poems will be published on the website :O)
bat poem template
email your poem
Need some inspiration?
Some poets find it hard to come up with ideas. To help with your poem it might be good to wear a batty hat to get your brain working hard :O)
Print out, decorate and cut out this bat picture 2 or 3 times.
You could decorate the bats' wings with fallen leaves - the veins on the leaves look quite realistic when painted over with black paint.
colouring sheet
Next follow these instructions to make a batty hat!
batty hat
You could also make some finger puppets as little friends to help get your poem down on paper :O)
bat and stag finger puppets
We'd love to see your hat and puppets :O)
send us a photo
Email your stories and photos to get them published on the website:
naturedetectives@woodlandtrust.org.uk
Written a bat poem?
Stick this sticker
onto your CLUB
challenge poster :O)