Bats are traditionally linked to Halloween and at Longleat in Wiltshire, 14 different species of the flying mammal have been identified including several of the rarest in the UK.

Across the world, bats are heavily persecuted due to fictional associations with evil, yet they play an important part in ecosystems, for example in pollination and seed dispersal says Longleat’s conservation and research manager Dr Tom Lewis.

“Bechstein’s bat, which we believe is breeding on the estate, has become one of our rarest bats, largely due to the widespread destruction of ancient woodlands that once blanketed the country,” he said.