We are fortunate that our garden contains a section of old hedgerow which bats use for navigation. A few weeks ago we were sat in our dining room on a family video-call being distracted by the antics of the bats outside. The bats that we see in our garden, and you will see flitting around streetlights in the village, are soprano and common pipistrelles. We also see noctule bats in the village, these usually emerge earlier than the pipistrelles and are larger. Noctules tend to be seen flying higher and more direct than the pipistrelles – bats on a mission.
One of the houses that overlooks our garden has a very bright security light. I don’t know what impact this has on our bats, but when the light is on it is hard to see anything flitting about. If you are thinking about changing your outside lights, then have a look at this guidance - https://www.northwessexdowns.org.uk/uploads/File_Management/Publications/Planning/Lighting_Guide_07-05_MEDRES.pdf
If you want to find out more about your local bats then there are various surveys that you can get involved in here - https://www.bats.org.uk/our-work/national-bat-monitoring-programme/surveys. The sunset survey is a good way to start.
There is an introduction to the UK’s bat species here - https://www.bats.org.uk/about-bats/what-are-bats/uk-bats
There is a really good guide to things that we can all do to make our gardens more bat friendly here - https://www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk/sites/default/files/2018-08/wild%20about%20gardens_stars%20of%20the%20nights_help%20bats.pdf
More bat-related ideas can be found here - https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions?categories%5B0%5D=342, and here - https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/nature-on-your-doorstep/garden-activities/?Help=26