In this bat group newsletter, we have:
- Reports on recent bat events in Castle Cary and Wiveliscombe
- Can you help with … requests for help with batty events?
- Details of the bat group events coming up soon.
- Bat Workers Forum 2023 – Bookings Now Open.
- Pete Guest Award 2023 – Voting
- The latest edition of the BCT Bat Group Bulletin includes news of the Nature 2030 campaign and a call for volunteers for the Helpline.
- A reminder about membership renewal.
- Welcome to our new Lifetime members of the Bat Group.
Recent bat event reports:
Castle Cary Big Bat Count
On Sat 8th July did our first repeat Big Bat Count in Castle Cary. Twelve people met in the Methodist rooms and set off in 5 groups to find bats. A colder and clear night meant the bats were late to show, with Common Pip and Noctule making up the majority of the records.
Full results can be seen in iNaturalist.
Wiveliscombe Bat Walk
Group member Rich, borrowed the SBG detectors and lead a very successful bat walk for Wild Wivey, part of Wivey Grows. Rich reported “Had 30ish people turned up and weather was just about on our side! Plenty of pips, noctule and myotis heard!”
You can Rich talking about the bat walk if you click here for an interview Rich recorded for local community radio station 10Radio.
Can you help with …?
The bat group receives far more requests for help, than the committee can do. Hence please do let us know if you think you could help out with recent requests:
- Drayton Environment Group are planning a Wildlife Fair in Drayton (near Langport) Village Hall on October 7th, 21st or 28th?
- each charity has its own table for information leaflets and merchandise
- each expert will have an allotted 15-20 mins to speak to the audience
- The Bishop’s Palace in Wells would like someone to lead a Bat Talk and Walk evening (as Dave can’t do it). Mid-Sept has been suggested, and the groups equipment should be available for loan.
- Minehead over 55’s residents group would like a talk on bats, the group meet fortnightly on a Thursday at 2pm in Minehead.
Bat Group events coming up
There are lots of events planned for the coming month, come along and get involved!:
- August – NBMP Waterways Surveys
- Sun 13th Aug (rescheduled) – Kingsdon Big Bat Count
- Fri 18th Aug – Yeovil Big Bat Count
- Tues 22nd Aug – Wells Bat walk for WDWG
- Weds 23rd Aug – Frome Big Bat Count
- Thur 24th Aug – Charlton Mackrell Big Bat Count
- Sat 26th Aug – International Bat Night – Bridgwater Big Bat Count and Walk
For details on how to join these events please see the Upcoming Events page on our website: https://somersetbat.group/events/upcoming/
Bat Workers Forum 2023 – Bookings Now Open
The 2023 Bat Workers Forum (BWF) will be taking place at 7pm on Tuesday 3rd October via Zoom.
Please click here for draft agenda for 2023 and the minutes from the 2022 meeting. A final edition of the agenda will be circulated before the Forum. For more information about the Bat Workers Forum and the terms of reference please see: https://www.bats.org.uk/our-work/conferences-symposia/bat-workers-forum.
If you would like to attend, please book via https://bit.ly/3pSqrOe. During booking there is an opportunity to share any issue you’d like to raise. This option will be removed from the booking form on 12th September to give time to gather responses to present at the Forum.
Pete Guest Award 2023 – Voting
Voting for the Pete Guest Award is currently open. You can find out about this year’s nominees through the support statements document here: https://bit.ly/44tsnfb. You can then vote for your chosen winner through this form: https://forms.office.com/e/UNTJs8cG3m.
All these links and further details of the award can be seen at https://www.bats.org.uk/our-work/awards/pete-guest-award.
Voting closes at 9am on Thursday 31st August.
The winner will be announced at this year’s National Bat Conference (15th – 17th September 2023), and the winner also invited to give their acceptance speech at the following Bat Workers Forum (3rd October 2023).
Bat group bulletin
The latest BCT Bat Group Bulletin includes news of the Nature 2030 campaign and a call for volunteers for the Helpline.
Membership Renewal.
If you are one of the 55 people that last filled in your annual membership form in 2022, this a reminder that your subscription to the bat group lapsed at our AGM in April, and you are no longer a member of the Bat Group.
If that is the case please complete our membership form to rejoin now: https://somersetbat.group/join/
Welcome to our new Lifetime members
Lifetime membership numbers are now been issued in order of payment of the £50 lifetime membership fee.
The group would like to warmly welcome the following members who have taken up lifetime membership in the last month:
- SBG0006 – Geoff
- SBG0007 – Josh
- SBG0008 – Liz