A sell-out Regent’s Park bat walk and poetry performance co-led by Royal Holloway’s Dr Briony Hughes brought science, art and community together after dark.
Royal Holloway’s Dr Briony Hughes co-led a magical evening of bat-themed creative exploration in early September.
As the sun dipped below the horizon on 2 September, Regent’s Park transformed into a stage for an unusual and enchanting performance. Torches flickered, bat detectors buzzed, and a group of curious participants gathered for 'Pipistrelles & Poems' – a free evening of creative exploration, co-led by Dr Briony Hughes, Lecturer in Creative Writing at Royal Holloway, University of London, and Loveday Lewthwaite from The Royal Parks.
The event began with a lively quiz designed by The Royal Parks to challenge common misconceptions about bats – many of which stem from centuries of myth and literature. From vampire legends to gothic horror, bats have long been misunderstood, and the quiz helped set the record straight before the group ventured into the night.
Next came a moment of stillness. With eyes closed, participants tuned into the park’s soundscape: rustling leaves, distant chatter, the hum of traffic, and the sudden roar of a helicopter overhead. Each person was handed an A3 sheet and a pen – not to write, but to draw.
Through abstract shapes and patterns, they captured the layered sounds of the city and nature, creating visual maps of the environment. Then came a challenge: imagine navigating these drawn landscapes like a bat hunting for insects, guided only by sound.
With this sensory exercise complete, the walk began. Handheld detectors helped participants tune into the ultrasonic calls of bats, revealing the hidden world of these nocturnal creatures.
The stars of the night were pipistrelles – tiny bats no bigger than a thumb, yet capable of eating up to 3,000 insects a night, including midges, moths and mosquitoes. Their presence is a powerful reminder of the role bats play in maintaining urban ecosystems.
As the group moved through the park, Dr Hughes performed poems from her collection Speculative Frequencies, weaving her words with the amplified bat calls. Participants were invited to raise the volume of their detectors, co-creating a live soundscape where poetry, technology, and wildlife converged. The bats themselves became collaborators in the performance.
“I absolutely loved ‘Poetry and Pipistrelles’ which was by far the most unique poetry event I've ever been to, as well as one of the most magical. Briony and Loveday were excellent guides through the event, expertly balancing the scientific and informative elements with the poetic and creative,” said a participant. “If the event runs again, which I hope it will do. I would recommend it to anyone!”
“Writing and performing alongside the bats is truly magical. The percussive rhythms of bats in flight transform the poems on my page into a lively soundscape, and each reading is different depending on the habitat and time of day,” said Dr Hughes.
This event – delivered in partnership with The Royal Parks through the Help Nature Thrive programme and supported by the People’s Postcode Lottery – is part of Dr Hughes’ wider programme of ecopoetry and creative engagement, connecting conservation partners, heritage sites and the public. Her collaborations span institutions such as Cambridge University Botanic Garden, Durham Bat Group and the Bat Conservation Trust – showcasing Royal Holloway’s commitment to social purpose through the arts.
