Whether you are a bat-beginner or an expert you are sure to find an event to interest you in the listings below. Year round the Bat Conservation Trust, local bat groups and others arrange bat events across the UK from training courses to bat walks for families.
To stay updated on all BCT's upcoming events, sign up to our events mailing list here.
Further information about the Bat Conservation Trust's Training Courses and Conferences & Symposia. You can also check out our e-learning platform here.
You will soon be able to add your events on our website yourself but for the time being please do email comms@bats.org.uk with details of your event: name of event, date, time and location, who is it aimed for, is it a paid event (if so how much per person), do people need to book (and where), contact details for the organiser for people who have question, website of the event if there is one.
Certificate of Bat Acoustics Analysis - online, available to start now
26th April 2024
“Superb training, with really illuminating illustrations and everything explained in a clear and accessible way.” - Philip Briggs, Monitoring Manager, Bat Conservation Trust
Bats and Artificial Lighting Guidance CPD - E-learning
26th April 2024
An opportunity to hear the talks given by the experts who spoke at the Bats and Artificial Guidance Note Update Launch in February 2023.
Introduction to bats and artificial lighting - e-learning module
26th April 2024
Independent e-learning that can be completed at your convenience. Learn about the latest research and guidance on bats and artificial lighting. A good foundation module for anyone wanting to develop their understanding of basic bat ecology, the impacts of artificial lighting and the latest mitigation techniques.
8th May 2024
Updated in line with the 4th edition of Bat Surveys for Professional Ecologists: Good Practice Guidelines, this course will give you the knowledge and skills to plan professional bat surveys, as well as developing practical survey skills and field sign identification.
Caring for baby bats online training
21st May 2024
An online course led by Maggie Brown from West Yorkshire Bat Hospital who will share the challenges of caring for baby bats and best practice techniques for their rehabilitation. Please note this is not an introductory course and requires some prior knowledge/experience of bat care.
British bats, their ecology and conservation - 6 session course
19th June 2024
Online course with 6 live, weekly workshops lasting 60-90 minutes online with opportunities to interact with the tutors on Zoom and ask your questions. Recordings of each session will be available afterwards for 1 month. You can book individual sessions if you are particularly interested in one or two topics, or book all six for a full overview of British bats.
Advanced Bat Survey Techniques
2nd September 2024
Combining 1 theory day online with three days and two nights in Dorset, attendees will be given theoretical and practical experiences of acoustic lures, harp traps, mist nets and radio tracking. The course will investigate the application of these techniques in line with the BCT’s Bat Surveys for Professional Ecologists: Good Practice Guidelines. The course is suitable for experienced bat surveyors wishing to gain practical experience towards obtaining advanced bat survey licences. It is also possible to just book the online theory day if you are already involved with practical activities locally. Data collected from the course will feed into current research taking place in the area. The field sites are in Dorset and 13 species of bats have been caught in the area.
Advanced Bat Survey Techniques
17th September 2024
Combining 1 theory day online with three days and two nights in Dorset, attendees will be given theoretical and practical experiences of acoustic lures, harp traps, mist nets and radio tracking. The course will investigate the application of these techniques in line with the BCT’s Bat Surveys for Professional Ecologists: Good Practice Guidelines. The course is suitable for experienced bat surveyors wishing to gain practical experience towards obtaining advanced bat survey licences. It is also possible to just book the online theory day if you are already involved with practical activities locally. Data collected from the course will feed into current research taking place in the area. The field sites are in Dorset and 13 species of bats have been caught in the area.
British bats, their ecology and conservation - 6 session course
7th November 2024
Online course with 6 live, weekly workshops lasting 60-90 minutes online with opportunities to interact with the tutors on Zoom and ask your questions. Recordings of each session will be available afterwards for 1 month. You can book individual sessions if you are particularly interested in one or two topics, or book all six for a full overview of British bats.