Upcoming Bat Group events

18th March 2020 – In the light of the government advice on Covid-19 we have to postpone all bat group events until the advice changes.

Somerset Bat Group AGM – by Saturday 25th April 2020

We will be emailing members shortly with information, so you can hear our plans for the year, and have a say in the running of the group.

Mells Valley SAC Bat Landscape Survey – Public events – POSTPONED until April 2021

Two talks and walks to introduce local residents to this project.  Bat group help and volunteers very welcome contact Andy for details.

  • Public Talk – Somerset Earth Science, Moon’s Hill Quarry, Stoke St Michael, Somerset, BA3 5JU
  • Public Walk – Starting in Stoke St Micheal, heading to Cooks Wood Quarry caves.
  • Public Talk – Location TBC possibly Great Elm.
  • Public walk – Starting outside Mells and heading down Wadbury Valley

Levels Bat Box checks – Sat in April/May 2020

Checking bat boxes in Westhay, Catcott SWT reserves, Shapwick Heath & Canada Farm (NE).  Last year we found the earliest pups in the country, what will this year bring?

  • Contact leader if coming: Paul Kennedy
  • 10am > 3pm.  All day event, bring packed lunch.
  • Westhay SWT, Daggs Lane Drove ST456437/Catcott SWT ST399414

Mells Valley SAC Bat Landscape Survey – 4th May to 27th Sept 2020

LOTs of Bat Group help required with this innovative long term project to survey all the bats of the Mells SAC and its Ecological Zone of Influence (EZI) using many low cost static ultrasound recorders.

Bat Box checks Taunton  – Sat 2nd May 2020

Checking the boxes in  Comeytrowe Park and Longrun Meadow, Taunton.

  • Contact Cath Shellswell if attending
  • Starting at Comeytrowe 10am, continuing to Longrun Meadow finish approx 1PM

National Bat Monitoring Programs

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 experienced bat worker, and in many cases they need lots of help.  Hence there any many opportunities learn more while doing you 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 – more details

July – NBMP Field Surveys

  • Monitoring noctule, serotine, common pipistrelle and soprano pipistrelle.
  • Two 1km recording walks, starting 20mins after sunset. – more details

Late July to early September – NBMP Woodland Surveys

  • Monitoring barbastelles at sites designated as Special Areas of Conservation.
  • One hour recording transects in mature broadleaved Somerset woodlands.

August – NBMP Waterways Surveys

  • Monitoring activity of Daubenton’s bats along Somersets waterways.
  • Two waterside recording walks, starting 40mins after sunset – more details

Radio Tracking Training day –  June 2020

Full day classroom session for those volunteering to help out with radio tracking Bechstein’s bat in July.

  • Location and booking details to follow

Radio Tracking Bechstein’s bat – Week commencing Tues 27th July 2020

Joint project with Dorset Bat group in mid Somerset as part of the Bechstein’s “finding its limit” project.  Our Chair Paul says “It’s gonna be aaaammmaaaazing!”

  • Lots of volunteers required, willing to stay up for one or two nights during the weeks tracking.
  • As it is “all night”, volunteers are expected not to go to work the following day.
  • Volunteers will need to be fully paid up SBG or DBG members to be covered by Third Party Insurance
  • More details, and how to volunteer to be published nearer the date.

Wells Bat Walk –  Tues 27th July 2020

The first of Dave’s walks round the Bishops Palace moat in Wells, for Bruton SWT group.  Public event, bat group support welcome.  email leader if coming to help.

  • Approx. 8.45   Meet: by gatehouse over moat.
  • Leader: Dave Cottle (01749 674257) 
  • Bishop’s Palace, Wells, BA5 2PD, parking nearby Market Square or Silver St.

Shapwick Bat Walk – Friday 31st July 2020

Public bat walk for Natural England on the Shapwick reserve.  Help from bat group members welcome, contact leader if attending

  • Meet at 8:30 PM at Shapwick Car Park, plan to end at 10:30PM ish
  • Leader: Dave Cottle (01749 674257) 

Wells Bat Walk –  Tues 25th August and Tues 1st Sept 2020

Dave’s hugely popular walk for Wells and Mendip SWT group, round Bishop’s  Palace, Wells.  Public event, but due to the huge numbers attending bat group support welcome.  email leader if coming to help.  Due to the numbers split over 2 nights this year.

  • Approx. 8 to 10pm  Meet: by gatehouse over moat.
  • Leader: Dave Cottle (01749 674257) 
  • Bishop’s Palace, Wells, BA5 2PD, parking nearby Market Square or Silver St.

Frome Bat Walk – Sat in early September 2020

Another popular public walk this time lead by Adel for Frome Outdoor Open Spaces Group event at Welshmill Park, Frome.  Bat group members support welcome, please email Adel  if attending. £2 pp. (non members)

  • 7pm for 7:15 start, to 9 pm ish
  • Leader: Adel Avery
  • Meet:  Cheese and Grain Car Park by Canoe Club in Frome.

Bat Box checks Taunton  – Sat 5th Sept 2020

Checking the boxes in  Comeytrowe Park and Longrun Meadow, Taunton. Contact

  • Contact Cath Shellswell if attending
  • Starting at Comeytrowe 10am, continuing to Longrun Meadow finish approx 1PM

Bat Box Checks  – Saturday in October 2020

Great Breach Wood for the morning visit.  For the afternoon we’ll visit Ham Wall/Loxton’s Plot  Expect to see some Soprano pips, plus random bonus other species if we’re really lucky. And a nice walk through the trees!

Bat ID training course –  Sat 21st Nov 2020

Come meet Dave’s extensive collection of mummified Bats!  Afternoon training course, looking at how to identify bat species.

Harridge Bat Box Checks  – Saturday in late 2020 (tbc)

Probably starting  in Edford before moving on to Harridge.  We regularly find a few Noctules which seem to over-winter in their box.