Archive – 2025 Events

NBMP WINTER HIBERNATION COUNTS – Jan & Feb ’25

Many licenced bat workers carry out surveys of hibernation sites in January and February each year, although these can be extended from December to March.
They often need assistance or are willing to take others along.

Thu 23 Jan ’25 – Online Talk – Connecting People and Landscapes – Bechstein’s and Bat Care

In the face of climate change, we need landscape-scale changes and evidence-based research to protect our mammal species. Simeon Johnson and Beth Gillie will be talking about their work on Bechstein’s Bats and Bat Care Records, and how they can help us understand climate change.

Thu 27 Feb ’25 – Online talk – Disco Bats and Glittery Poo

James Shipman has been monitoring the populations of soprano pipistrelles over the last 10+ years in West Berkshire. Within one woodland there are two separate populations within the bat box monitoring scheme that never move between the two split sides of woodlands. By using UV powder James is looking to explore the movements of the two populations between these two woodland areas but also within potential tree roosts via the use of UV light. The use of UV powder is also being used to see the movement of noctule bats across southern areas of the project boundary and in the next coming years radio tracking will be used to determine the wider use of the landscape.
He may also mention his newly released book – “Identifying bats of Britain and Ireland“

6th March – Online Talk – Surveying bats in woodlands in North Devon and South West Australia

Our thanks to Avon Bat group for inviting our members to this talk by David Hill. The meeting will be online at 7.30 pm on Thursday 6th March 2025. David’s impressive bio is as follows;

“I have been working with bats in woodlands for about 28 years. Before that I was a primatologist and did most of my research in warm temperate rainforest in Yakushima, an island in Japan. It was during a field trip to Yakushima that I first used a bat detector and became captivated by a whole new world of nocturnal ultrasound. At that time I was a lecturer at the University of Sussex and I got to know bat expert Frank Greenaway, who lived nearby. Frank introduced me to the natural history of British bats and field techniques to study them. Together with Peter Reed we developed the Sussex Autobat acoustic lure to meet the need for an effective method for surveying the highly elusive Bechstein’s bat. Since then I have used Autobats in all of my research and survey work in various countries including the UK, Japan, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and the U.S.A. In 2010 I left Sussex and returned to Japan to take up a post at Kyoto University. In 2015 I returned to the UK and began my current work as an ecological consultant specialising in surveying woodlands for bats. In addition to projects related to potential impacts of development, I have also surveyed woodlands for conservation purposes for the National Trust, the Woodland Trust and for various private landowners.”

Sorry, this event was not recorded.

BAT GROUP Annual Meeting & GLE Talk– Sat 12th APRIL

We will hold our 2025 annual meeting, in Othery Village Hall again, central Somerset. Come along and get involved! After the meeting, Daniel Hargreaves will be presenting the results of the 2024 grey-long-eared project, and talking about plans for 2025.

Full details: https://somersetbat.group/about/meet/

Fri 2nd May – FROME BIG BAT COUNT #1

A Big Bat Count hosted by Frome Town Council. Help from bat group members would be very welcome, contact us if you can help.

The results will appear here on the night:

Sun 4th MAy – Edford Bat Box Checks

Clearance works due to Ash die-back have also had a significant impact on the ride through Edford Woods (north of Shepton), and most of the bat boxes had to be moved. If time allows we may also check the Wadbury Bat house.

  • 11AM start. Bring snack or packed lunch
  • Please contact Amber if you would like to come along

Fri 9th May – Thurlbear Wood Bat Box Checks

These boxes south east of Taunton, haven’t been checked since 2012 and we’re not sure what we’ll find!

  • 9:30 start and further details available closer to the date.
  • Contact Cath to if you’d like to come along.

SAt 10th May – Gt.Breach and Ham Wall Bat box Checks

Josh Butterworth will be leading the checks of the bat boxes at Great Breach Wood (just south of Street), and Ham Wall on the levels.

  • 10AM start. Bring packed lunch
  • These checks are now full. Please email Josh if you would like to be added to the waiting list.

Sat 10th 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 8:48 PM, so meet at 8:15PM for the briefing. 9PM count start & 10PM count end.

Sun 11th May – Harridge Bat Box Checks

Ash die-back and storms have had a huge impact on the Harridge woods (north of Shepton). Hence many of the bat boxes have been moved in recent years under licence. If time, we may also check the Keepers Bat house as well.

  • 11AM start. Bring packed lunch
  • Please contact Adel if you would like come along

Fri 16th May – Highbridge Big Bat Count

Our second big bat count for Our Highbridge, as part of the Brue Green pathways project. Help from bat group members would be very welcome, contact us if you can help.

  • Sunset is 20:57 so meet at 8:45 PM for the briefing, and to allow for the open western skys: 9:30 PM count start, 10:30PM end.
  • Booking via Our Highbridges eventbrite

Sat 17th May – East Mendips Bat box Checks

Josh will be leading the checks of the boxes of the SWT reserves, Kings Castle Wood (near Wells) and Withial Combe (nearest Pilton).

  • At Kings Castle we will be checking the existing boxes and this will involve 2-3km of walking to access.
  • Withial Combe has 6 boxes to check, with nocule resident the last time we looked
  • 10AM start. Parking is very tight at each site so numbers will be limited.
  • email Josh if you would like to come along.

Late Spring – Grey long-eared trapping and radio tracking

Following on our success last year, we will be again having two periods of trapping for Grey long-eared (GLE) this year, and radio tracking any we catch. The focus for 2025 with be on sites with mid-summer, or juvenile records, looking for breeding roosts.

The first trapping sessions are:

  • 17-18th May – Glastonbury – This event is full. Please email if you want to be added to the wait list.

This will be great experience at bat ID and handling, especially for those planning to apply for licences. Last year it proved VERY popular and was vastly oversubscribed. Once again, this year preference will be given those best able to help; i.e. those local members who can do some trapping and radio tracking. 

The nature of trapping and radio tracking is last minute, as it is very dependant on weather, moon, permissions etc. Hence we will again be using a WhatsApp group to communicate about radio tracking again. If you would like to volunteer this year, please email, and we’ll add you to the 2025 WhatsApp group:  somersetbatgroup@gmail.com.

More details about the GLE project on our website: https://somersetbat.group/bats/gle/

Sat 17th May – Bridgwater BIG BAT COUNT

A repeat Big Bat Count hosted for the friends of Wilstock and Stockmoor Country Park. Help from bat group members would be very welcome, contact us if you can help.

  • Sunset is 8:58 PM, so meet at 8:30PM for the briefing. 9:10 PM count start & 10:10 PM count end.

Sun 18th MAy – Levels Bat box Checks

Dani Smith will be leading the checks of the bat boxes at Canada Farm, Shapwick and Catcott.

  • 10:30AM start. Bring packed lunch, or it might be possible to buy lunch at the Avalon Marshes Centre
  • Please email Dani if you would like to reserve a space, and for info on the meeting location

Fri 23rd May – Ruggin Wood Bat Box Checks

These boxes south east of Wellington, haven’t been checked since 2012 and we’re not sure what we’ll find!

  • 9:30 start and further details available closer to the date.
  • Contact Cath to if you’d like to come along.

NATIONAL BAT MONITORING PROGRAM (NBMP)

For many years, lots of group members have collected and contributed data to these national monitoring programs run by the BCT.  Each survey site is allocated to a volunteer, and in many cases, they need lots of help.  Hence there any many opportunities to learn more while doing your bit to help bat conservation.

The surveys happen at the same time every year, so watch out for the emails and Facebook messages nearer the time for details of when, where and who the lead contact is.

LATE MAY TO EARLY JULY – NBMP ROOST SURVEYS

Sunset emergent counts at roosts across Somerset.  Click here for more details

Sat 14th June – Bat Detector Building Workshop

In these Bat Detector building workshops you can build your own LOW cost, and HIGHLY capable bat detector from the Pipistrelle family of devices. Do you fancy auto tuning Heterodyne AND Time expansion!

It is free to come along to a workshop, to learn about the Pipistrelle detectors, and watch them being built. However if you want to build a detector then this will cost between £15 and £26 depending on which model you would like, and in addition there is a small venue hire fee.

Spaces now very limited on both morning and afternoon sessions.
If there is more demand we will run workshops nearer to you. Simply drop us a email to register your interest, and say which model of detector you are interested in building – somersetbatgroup@gmail.com

SUN 15th June – Berrow BIG BAT COUNT

New date due to weather. A new bat count for Berrow Conservation Group. The aim is to cover Berrow Dunes Local Nature reserve, and the Holiday Resort Unity. Help from bat group members would be very welcome, contact us if you can help.

  • Sunset is 9:29 PM, so meet at 9PM for the briefing. 9:50 PM count start & 10:50 PM count end.

JULY – NBMP FIELD SURVEYS

The field survey takes place in July and monitors noctule, serotine, common pipistrelle and soprano pipistrelle. It is done by two 1km recording walks, starting 20mins after sunset.  Click here for more details

Sat 5th July – Bat Detector Building Workshop, Levels

You can build your own LOW cost, and HIGHLY capable bat detector from the Pipistrelle family of devices. You could make your own Mini Pipistrelle detector, with auto tuning Heterodyne AND Time expansion for just £20!

  • Morning session: 10AM to 1PM (Full). Afternoon session: 2 to 5PM (Full)
  • Avalon Marshes Centre, Shapwick Road, Westhay, Glastonbury, Somerset, BA6 9TT
  • Booking is via the Somerset Wildlife Trust – Morning workshop – Afternoon workshop

Click here for full details of how the workshops work, and what you need to bring.

Sat 19th July – Standard Bat Detector Building Workshop, Taunton

You can build your own LOW cost, and HIGHLY capable bat detector from the Pipistrelle family of devices. You could make your own Mini Pipistrelle detector, with auto tuning Heterodyne AND Time expansion for just £20!

  • 10AM to 1PM (Full), and 2PM to 5PM (Full)
  • Somerset Wildlife Trust Offices, 34 Wellington Rd, Taunton. TA1 5AW
  • Booking is via the Somerset Wildlife Trust – Morning workshop – Afternoon workshop

Click here for full details of how the workshops work, and what you need to bring.

Fri 25th July – Ham Hill Big Bat Count

A repeat Big Bat Count for the villages around Ham Hill. Help from bat group members would be very welcome, contact us if you can help.

  • Sunset is 21:10, so meet at 8:45 PM for the briefing.  Count start at 9:30, end at 10:30

Late July/EarlY Aug – Grey long-eared trapping and radio tracking2

Following on our success last year, this will be the second period of trapping for Grey long-eared (GLE) this year, and radio tracking any we catch. The focus for 2025 with be on sites with mid-summer, or juvenile records, looking for breeding roosts.

This will be great experience at bat ID and handling, especially for those planning to apply for licences. Last year it proved VERY popular and was vastly oversubscribed. Once again, this year preference will be given those best able to help; i.e. those local members who can do some trapping and radio tracking. 

The nature of trapping is last minute, as it is very dependant on weather, moon, permissions etc. Hence we will again be using a WhatsApp group to communicate again. If you would like to volunteer this year, please email, and we’ll add you to the 2025 WhatsApp group:  somersetbatgroup@gmail.com.

More details about the GLE project on our website: https://somersetbat.group/bats/gle/

AUGUST – NBMP WATERWAYS SURVEYS

Monitoring the activity of Daubenton’s bats along Somersets waterways. Two waterside recording walks, starting 40mins after sunset. Click here for more details

Sun 3rd August – Glastonbury Bat box Checks

Ellie Hack will be leading the checks of the bat boxes at Glastonbury Abbey.

Please email Ellie if you would like to reserve a space, and for info on the meeting location.

Sat 9th August – Castle Cary Big Bat Count

The location of our first Big Bat Count, and our now our third one in Cary. Help from bat group members would be very welcome, contact us if you can help.

  • Sunset is 8:44 PM, so meet at 8:15 PM for the briefing, and a 9PM count start.

Tues 19th August – FROME BIG BAT COUNT #2

A Big Bat Count hosted by Frome Town Council. Help from bat group members would be very welcome, contact us if you can help.

Sat 23rd Aug – Blagdon Hill, Taunton – Big Bat Count

An event for ‘Greener and Wilder’ project in Blagdon Hill, Taunton. Help from bat group members would be very welcome, contact us if you can help.

  • Sunset is 20:16, so meet at 8PM for the briefing.  Count start at 8:40, end at 9:40.

W’end 6/7 Sept – Stoke St Gregory Big Bat Count

A SWT promoted Big Bat Count for Stoke St Gregory environment group. Help from bat group members would be very welcome, contact Bryony if you can help.

SAt 13th SEPT – Gt.Breach and Ham Wall Bat box Checks

Josh Butterworth will be leading the checks of the bat boxes at Great Breach Wood (just south of Street), and Ham Wall on the levels.

  • 10AM start. Bring packed lunch
  • Please email Josh if you would like come along.

Sat 13th Sept – Taunton Big Bat Count

Returning to Taunton to repeat our 2022 Big Bat Count launch event. Help from bat group members would be very welcome, contact us if you can help.

Sun 14th Sept – Levels Bat box Checks

Dani Smith will be leading the checks of the bat boxes at Canada Farm, Shapwick and Catcott.

  • 10:30AM start. Bring packed lunch, or it might be possible to buy lunch at the Avalon Marshes Centre
  • Please email Dani if you would like to reserve a space, and for info on the meeting location

Sun 21st Sept ’25 – Harridge Bat Box Checks

Cancelled due to weather. Ash die-back and storms have had a huge impact on the Harridge woods (north of Shepton). Hence many of the bat boxes have been moved in recent years under licence. If time, we may also check the Keepers Bat house as well.

  • 11AM start. Bring packed lunch
  • Contact Adel if you would like to reserve a place, and for info on the meeting location

Sat 27th SEPT – East Mendips Bat box Checks

Josh will be leading the checks of the boxes of the SWT reserves, Kings Castle Wood (near Wells) and Withial Combe (nearest Pilton).

  • At Kings Castle we will be checking the existing boxes and this will involve 2-3km of walking to access.
  • Withial Combe has 6 boxes to check, with nocule resident the last time we looked
  • 10AM start. Parking is very tight at each site so numbers will be limited.
  • email Josh if you would like to come along.

Sun 28th Sept – Edford Bat Box Checks

Clearance works due to Ash die-back have also had a significant impact on the ride through Edford Woods (north of Shepton), and most of the bat boxes had to be moved.

  • 11AM start. Bring snack or packed lunch
  • These checks are now full, but Contact Amber if you would like be added to the wait list.

SAT 4th October – Bat Detector Workshop

NOTE: NEW DATE. You can build your own LOW cost, and HIGHLY capable bat detector. Come along to make your own Mini Pipistrelle detector, with auto tuning Heterodyne AND Time expansion for just £16!

Click here for full details of how the workshops work, and what you need to bring.

Sat 15TH Nov – Bat Detector Building WorkshopS

In these Bat Detector building workshops you can build your own LOW cost, and HIGHLY capable bat detector from the Pipistrelle family of devices.

It is free to come along to a workshop, to learn about the Pipistrelle detectors, and watch them being built. However if you want to build a detector then the materials cost is between £8 and £22 depending on which model you would like, in addition there is a small venue hire fee (£5 per detector), and you may want a extra OTG adaptor (£2) to connect to your phone/tablet.

Morning session – Bat Detector Building Workshop

If this is the first time you have done something like this, we would recommend coming along in the morning to build either the mini PiPistrelle (£16), Griff 384kHz USB microphone (£12) or mini Griff (£8)

  • 9:30AM to 12:30PM

Afternoon session – Advanced – Ultrasound recorder Building Workshop

If you already have some experience of electronic component assembly, or have successfully completed a bat detector workshop, then either come along in the morning, or join us in the afternoon to build either π•pistrelle (£22) or PippyG (£20) ultrasound recorders.

  • 1:30 to 5:30PM

Both workshops are at

Both workshops are nearly full – email to enquire about a place: somersetbatgroup@gmail.com

Click here for full details of how the workshops work, and what you need to bring.