Welcome to the first Somerset Bat Group Newsletter of 2024. We wish everyone a very Batty new year! In this newsletter:
- Its a new year, so time for most members to renew their membership.
- A reminder of the zoom talk on Greater Horseshoes in Somerset next week.
- Details of other Bat Group events coming up.
- Can you help with …? Recent requests to the Bat Group
- The latest BCT Bat Group Bulletin which includes news of the VBRV Train the Trainers Course for 2024.
- Welcome to our new lifetime members
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL time.
The majority of bat group members last paid their membership in early 2023, hence it is now time for most to renew your membership. We will send an email to each member detailing your current membership status, so please check your inbox (and spam).
It costs just £5 per household to rejoin the bat group (free for students/unwaged), and your renewed membership would then run until our April 2025 AGM, on 26/4/25.
For regular members, you might like to consider taking out lifetime membership, which is just £50 per household.
Please pay your membership subs by BaCs or Paypal then complete our online membership form to update your information. Full details on our website: https://somersetbat.group/join/
Zoom talk next week – Thomas Foxley – Greater Horseshoes
Tom is a Post Graduate Researcher in the Ecology & Conservation Research Lab at UWE. Those who caught Toms presentation to SBG in March this year will recall the fascinating early insights he was gaining into the Greater Horseshoe populations in North Somerset with projections for the whole of Somerset. He was presenting very early results to us last spring so expect a full update now, with another years GPS and radio tracking data and modelling results.
- Time: 18th Jan 2024 7.30 PM
- Zoom meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87850341257?pwd=QXjbugEHHsc7uYa5W8fdsS63mBPHaP.1
- Event organised by Avon bat group and open to all Somerset, Wilts and Avon bat group members
Upcoming Bat Group Events
There are lots of events planned, come along and get involved!
- Dec’23 to Mar’24 – NBMP Winter Hibernation Counts
- Thurs 18th Jan’24 7.30PM – Zoom Talk – details above
- Thurs 22nd Feb’24 7.30PM – Zoom Talk – Emma Stone, Bath Uni
- Sat 23rd Mar’24 – SBG visit to Heal rewilding
- Sun 21st April ’24 – Edford Bat Box Checks
- BAT GROUP AGM – Sat 27th APRIL 2024 2PM
- Sun 5th May ’24 – Harridge Bat Box Checks
- Fri 17th May – Highbridge Big Bat Count
Other spring bat box checks will be added shortly. For details on how to join these events please see the Upcoming Events page on our website: https://somersetbat.group/events/upcoming/
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 these recent requests: somersetbatgroup@gmail.com
- Wytch Wood Camping, a Greener Camping Club campsite at Woolminstone near Crewkerne would like help with siting some bat boxes that have been given, and perhaps hosting a bat count.
- Secret World Wildlife Rescue in East Huntspill have asked us to run a bat educational stand at their ‘Secret World’s Wild Weekend 2024’ over the weekend of the 25th – 27th May 2024.
- Stoke Environment group have asked us to have a stand at the Stoke St Gregory’s EnviroFair 24 on Saturday 1st June 2024.
Bat group bulletin
The latest BCT Bat Group Bulletin which includes news of the VBRV Train the Trainers Course for 2024.
All past editions of the Bulletin can be found on this page of our website:
Welcome to our new Lifetime members
The group would like to warmly welcome the following members who have taken up lifetime membership in the last month:
- SBG0011 – Adel
- SBG0012 – Amber
- SBG0013 – Andy