Noctule bats can live for up to 12 years

Richard Dodd has been appointed by the Bat Conservation Trust ahead of this weekend's European Bat Weekend.

He said: "Bats have had a bit of a bad press. People seem to associate them with the Dracula films and vampires."

In Wales, there are about 11 species of bat which are commonly seen, compared to 17 species across the UK.

Mr Dodd, who lives in Pontypridd, south Wales, will be responsible for supporting the 14 bat groups and numerous bat workers across Wales.

Volunteers play an important role in monitoring bat populations in their own areas, carrying out surveys, providing information and advice to the general public, and raising funds to support the Bat Conservation Trust's work.

Bat facts Loss of habitat is the main reason for declining numbers Bats can see, but need to hunt insects at night, so use echolocation to track insects in the dark The pipistrelle weighs just 5g - less than a �1 coin A pipistrelle can eat 3,000 midges in one night Bats prefer quiet places, free of cobwebs The noctule's voice is four times louder than the legal limit of a disco

"There are lots of ways for people to get to know more about bats, and the best way is to find their local bat group," Mr Dodd said.

"They can take part in bat walks and talks, help survey new habitat for bat species, and help in putting up bat boxes, to encourage more to breed in certain areas.

"There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about the bats we have in the UK. They don't suck your blood and they won't attack you or get tangled up in your hair."

There are 17 species of bats in the UK, all of which are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. It is illegal to kill or disturb them, damage or alter their nesting sites.

In Wales, there are about 11 species which are regularly seen.

The most frequently recorded bat is the common pipistrelle, our smallest bat, at just 4cm long, but there are also good-sized populations of noctules, the largest bat in the UK, and Daubenton's bat.

"Numbers-wise, it's good news in Wales," Mr Dodd said.

"Some of the species, like the pipistrelles, are increasing, and the rarer species, which include the greater horseshoe bat, are actually stable, so we are trying to find ways to increase their populations."