As part of the Great Somerset Wildlife Count, in 2022 the bat group launched our new community bat mapping project the Big Bat Count, to help people to find out about, and count the bats in their local area.
If you are a community group (wildlife, gardening, church …etc), or just a group of friends or neighbours, in Somerset who would like help to do a Big Bat Count on your patch then please do get in touch – somersetbatgroup@gmail.com
Details of the Big Bat Counts planned so far in 2023 are below:
Sat 22nd April – Yeovil Big Bat Count
To celebrate Earth Day along with the Wildlife Trust we hope to be running a Big Bat Count across Yeovil. Help from bat group members would be very welcome, contact Andy for details if you can assist.
- Sunset is 20:19 PM, so meet at 7:30 PM for briefing, and 8:20 PM count start.
- Contact Helen Hawke for details of the bat count, and of all SWT activities at the Earth Day festival.
- See event poster – public booking on SWT website
Mon 8th May – Drayton Big Bat Count
A Big Bat Count in Drayton near Langport, backup date is Weds 10th May. Help from bat group members would be very welcome, contact us if you can help.
- Sunset is 8:46 PM, so meet at 8 PM for the briefing, and a 8:45 PM count start.
Fri 12th May – Frome Big Bat Count
A Big Bat Count hosted by the Wild Bunch with support from Frome Town Council. Help from bat group members would be very welcome, contact us if you can help.
- Sunset is 8:50 PM, so meet at 8 PM for the briefing, and a 8:50 PM count start.
Fri 19th May – Buckland St Mary Big Bat Count
A private big bat count on the Blackdowns for Buckland St Mary parish environment group. Backup date in case of weather is 20th May.
Help from bat group members would be very welcome, contact us if you can help.
- Sunset is 9:01 PM, so meet at 8:15 PM for the briefing, and a 9 PM count start.
- Contact Jolyon for details.
Weds 23rd Aug – Frome Big Bat Count
A Big Bat Count hosted by the Wild Bunch with support from Frome Town Council. Help from bat group members would be very welcome, contact us if you can help.
- Sunset is 8:17 PM, so meet at 7:30 PM for the briefing, and a 8:15 PM count start.
Sat 26th Aug – Bridgwater Big Bat Count for International Bat Night
As part of International Bat Night, we hope to run a public Big Bat Count, promoted by SWT in Bridgwater. The event may be live-streamed as part of the BatFest Virtual Bat Walk.
- Sunset is 8:11 PM, so meet at 7:15 PM for the briefing, and a 8:10 PM count start.
Sat 2nd Sept – Stoke St Gregory Big Bat Count
A private big bat count for Stoke St Gregory environment group. Backup date in case of weather is Friday 1st or Sun 3rd Sept.
Help from bat group members would be very welcome, contact us if you can help.
- Sunset is 7:56 PM, so meet at 7:15 PM for the briefing, and a 8:00 PM count start
- Contact Bryony for count details.
Tues 12th Sept – Brompton Ralph Big Bat Count
A Big Bat Count for Brompton Ralph wildlife group with support from residents of Tolland. Help from bat group members would be very welcome, contact us if you can help.
- Sunset is 7:34 PM, so meet at 7 PM for the briefing, and a 7:40 PM count start.
Thanks!
The Somerset Bat Group is grateful to:
- Somerset Environmental Records Centre (SERC) for funding the ultrasonic microphones and safety equipment used in the Big Bat Counts, and for help with mapping.
- Hinkley Point C Community Fund for a grant awarded via the Somerset Community Foundation, to fund the tablets and bat call analysis software used in the Big Bat Count.
