EXPERTS are trying to boost the bat population by creating a new home for them in a Ribble Valley village.

The Forestry Commission had to fell eight rotting, mature beech and sycamore trees in Back Standing, Dunsop Bridge.

By cutting the trees down to a safe height and ensuring any cavities were retained, the commission said it had provided a potential new habitat for bats which roost in large tree cavities during the summer months.

Andrew Banks, the Forestry Commission's works supervisor in the Forest of Bowland and Dalton, said: “We always try to turn a negative into a positive.

“In this case dismantling these large hazardous trees has enabled us to retain some useful potential roosting habitat for bats, as well as cavities for other wildlife such as woodpeckers.

“Wildlife diversity is a direct result of good woodland management as it provides a mosaic of different environmental niches by opening up areas and on the other extreme retaining older veteran trees to provide standing deadwood.

“We also plan to plant another two trees for every one cut down to replace those we had to remove due to health and safety concerns."

The trees were felled in September after local Forestry Commission staff found they contained significant rot, putting them in danger of falling into the road which runs adjacent.

Britain's bat species have been in decline over the last century due to loss of habitat and food supplies.

Trees are very important to bats as they offer them somewhere to roost and breed as well as providing insects for them to eat, the commission said.

All of Britain's 17 species of bat are found in and around woodlands. Those spotted in the Forest of Bowland include Daubentons, Pipi-strelle and Whiskered bats.

The Forestry Commission had to fell eight rotting, mature beech and sycamore trees in Back Standing, Dunsop Bridge.

By cutting the trees down to a safe height and ensuring any cavities were retained, the commission said it had provided a potential new habitat for bats which roost in large tree cavities during the summer months.

Andrew Banks, the Forestry Commission's works supervisor in the Forest of Bowland and Dalton, said: “We always try to turn a negative into a positive.

“In this case dismantling these large hazardous trees has enabled us to retain some useful potential roosting habitat for bats, as well as cavities for other wildlife such as woodpeckers.

“Wildlife diversity is a direct result of good woodland management as it provides a mosaic of different environmental niches by opening up areas and on the other extreme retaining older veteran trees to provide standing deadwood.

“We also plan to plant another two trees for every one cut down to replace those we had to remove due to health and safety concerns."

The trees were felled in September after local Forestry Commission staff found they contained significant rot, putting them in danger of falling into the road which runs adjacent.

Britain's bat species have been in decline over the last century due to loss of habitat and food supplies.

Trees are very important to bats as they offer them somewhere to roost and breed as well as providing insects for them to eat, the commission said.

All of Britain's 17 species of bat are found in and around woodlands.

Those spotted in the Forest of Bowland include Daubentons, Pipi-strelle and Whiskered bats.