As part of the Great Somerset Wildlife Count, the Bat Group is helping people to find and count the bats of their local area with our new community mapping project.
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
The current list of Big Bat Counts currently planned for 2026 is listed below:
- Fri 1st May – Frome Big Bat Count
- Tue 12th May – Axevale
- Sat 16th May – Shepton Beauchamp
- Tue 19th May – Heal rewilding
- Fri 7th Aug – Blagdon Hill, Taunton
- Fri 14th Aug – Drayton
- W’end 28 Aug – Kingsdon
The results FAQ aims to answer many common questions about the results. Including explanations of why:
- some observations end up miles away
- the numbers of the “on the night” observations, and verified records added later differ.
Fri 1st May – FROME BIG BAT COUNT
Back by popular demand, another Big Bat Count hosted by Frome Town Council. Help from bat group members would be very welcome, contact us if you can help.
- Sunset is 8:34 PM, so meet at 8 PM for the briefing, and a 8:45 PM count start.
- Previous years project details: https://www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk/were-going-batty-for-bats-this-year/
The results will appear here on the night:
- Species observed during the Frome Big Bat Count in May
- Bat Map produced on the night of the unverified observations
Tues 12th May – Axevale Big Bat Count
An event for Axevale Climate Action, near Axebridge. Help from bat group members would be very welcome, contact us if you can help.
- Sunset is 20:54, so meet at 8:30PM for the briefing. Count starts at 9:15, ends at 10:15PM
The results will appear here on the night:
- Bat Map produced on the night of the unverified observations
- Species observed during the Axevale Big Bat Count
Sat 16th May – Shepton Beauchamp BIG BAT COUNT
A Big Bat Count hosted by the Cowleaze Meadow community group. Help from bat group members would be very welcome, contact us if you can help.
- Sunset is 21:01, so meet at 8:30PM for the briefing. Count starts at 9:15, ends at 10:15PM
The results will appear here on the night:
- Bat Map produced on the night of the unverified observations
- Species observed during the Shepton Beauchamp Big Bat Count 2026
Tues 19th May – Heal Rewilding Big Bat Count
An event for Heal rewilding near Witham Friary. Help from bat group members would be very welcome, contact us if you can help.
- Sunset is 21:01, so people meet at 8:30PM for the briefing. Count starts at 9:15, ends at 10:15PM.
The results will appear here on the night:
- Bat Map produced on the night of the unverified observations
- Species observed during the Heal Big Bat Count
Fri 7th August – Blagdon Hill BIG BAT COUNT
A Big Bat Count hosted by a community group in Blagdon Hill. Help from bat group members would be very welcome, contact us if you can help.
- Sunset is 20:44, so meet at 8:15PM for the briefing. Count starts at 9 ends at 10PM
The results will appear here on the night:
- Bat Map produced on the night of the unverified observations
- Species observed during the Blagdon Hill Big Bat Count 2026
Fri 14th August – Drayton BIG BAT COUNT
A Big Bat Count hosted by a community group in Drayton. Help from bat group members would be very welcome, contact us if you can help.
- Sunset is 20:35, so meet at 8PM for the briefing. Count starts at 8:45, ends at 9:45PM
The results will appear here on the night:
- Bat Map produced on the night of the unverified observations
- Species observed during the Drayton Big Bat Count 2026
W’end 28TH Aug – Kingsdon Big Bat Count
A Big Bat Count being run by the community in Kingsdon, using Bat Group equipment. Help from bat group members to answer batty questions would be welcome, contact Ian directly if you can help.