the Forest. Here I summarise the records which do exist and make a guess at the
bats' status based on what is known of their ecological requirements.
Whiskered bats were recorded near Epping in 1843 (Laver, 1898) and 1946
(Seear, 1964). Since then the closely similar Brandt's bat has been shown to
occur in Britain and there is no way of knowing to which species the records
refer. Both species occur in south-east England, they may still occur in the
Forest but are probably rare.
Natterer's bats were reported from Epping in 1843 and 1874 (Laver, 1898)
but there are no recent records. It may still be present.
Daubenton's bats were reported between Epping and Abridge in the early
1870's (Laver, 1898) but there are no other records.
The Serotine was recorded once from Loughton in 1947 (Seear, 1964).
There are scattered records over the last century from many parts of Essex and
Serotine probably still occur in the Forest.
There are no Epping Forest records for Leisler's bat but judging from its
known distribution in south-east England and its preference for hollow trees
(Stebbing, in Corbet and Southern, (1977)) it may well be present in the Forest.
The noctule was recorded in Laver's time (1898) and there are several more
recent records for Epping Forest and Walthamstow (Seear, 1964). This species
may be quite common.
The Pipistrelle has been found many times over the last century. It is
certainly the commonest bat in Epping Forest, although it probably roosts
mainly in house lofts.
The barbastelle was found in 1843 in the Epping area (record in Laver,
1898). This is a rare (or difficult to find) species everywhere and it might,
perhaps, still be present.
The common long-eared bat was recorded for Epping in 1843 (Laver, 1898)
and there have been a few records in the 1960's. It is probably quite a common
species. (N.B. Another species of long-eared bat (Plecotus austriacus) has
recently been found in England. It is not known north of the Thames, so all
Essex records of Plecotus' are assumed to be the common species.)
Figure 3. A badger sett in Epping Forest (from Laver 1898).