Do bats hibernate? According to the Woodland Trust, the answer is yes and sometimes up until mid-May. That might explain why, when Jane and I took our exercise at twilight tonight by walking to a local place called Bathaus we not only saw nary a soul (well, one or two but it was easy to give a good berth when passing) but also no bats.

The building, on the science park attached to Loughborough University and formerly called Snells Nook Cottage, had been abandoned but had bats nesting in the roof. Now most of the lower floor has been carved out and it stands as a permanent habit for them.

So, no bats to be seen but plenty of bird calls to listen to including at least one owl.