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
1st May 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
1st May 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
1st May 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.
NBMP 'Discover your local bats' Workshop, Zoom, Thursday 2nd May 2024
2nd May 2024
This free beginner's workshop invites you to explore the wonderful world of bats! It will cover bats around the world, in the UK, how they are surveyed, and how you can find these amazing animals in your local area. It will show you how to carry out your first bat count and ways in which you can continue to develop your skills. This workshop will be led by Philip Briggs.
NBMP Level 2 bat detector workshop - Tuesday 7th May 2024
7th May 2024
This bat detector workshop involves an evening session run online via Zoom. Bat sounds are broken down into four elements in order to train people's sonic memory and aid species identification using a heterodyne bat detector in the field. The focus is on pipistrelles, noctule, serotine and Daubenton's bat as these illustrate a range of different bat sounds and are the species monitored on the NBMP Field Survey and Waterway Survey. The training will also cover some of the logistics of getting started with surveying a site near you as part of these long-running surveys and how you can make a valuable contribution to the country-level reporting on how these species are faring. The workshop will be led by Philip Briggs.
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.
NBMP Level 1 bat detector workshop - Thursday 16th May 2024
16th May 2024
This introductory bat detector workshop involves an evening classroom session featuring videos, activities and quizzes. It is designed to provide attendees with an introduction to using a tuneable heterodyne bat detector and fundamental species identification skills, and enable them to participate in a UK-wide survey as part of the National Bat Monitoring Programme (NBMP). The focus is on the NBMP Waterway Survey, how to separate big bats and small bats, and on identification of pipistrelles and Daubenton's bat. The workshop will be led by Philip Briggs.
NBMP Level 2 bat detector workshop - Thursday 16th May
16th May 2024
This introductory bat detector workshop involves an evening classroom session followed by a practical field session starting around dusk. Bat sounds are broken down into four elements in order to train people's sonic memory and aid species identification using a heterodyne bat detector in the field. The focus is on pipistrelles, noctule, serotine and Daubenton's bat as these illustrate a range of different bat sounds. *Attendees can leave earlier if they need to. The workshop will be led by Mike Castle.
NBMP Level 2 bat detector workshop - Saturday 18th May 2024
18th May 2024
This introductory bat detector workshop involves an evening classroom session followed by a practical field session starting around dusk. Bat sounds are broken down into four elements in order to train people's sonic memory and aid species identification using a heterodyne bat detector in the field. The focus is on pipistrelles, noctule, serotine and Daubenton's bat as these illustrate a range of different bat sounds. *Attendees can leave early if they need to. The workshop will be led by Steve Parker. Drinks will be provided. If you are a member of South Lancashire Bat Group you can book on for free by contacting enquiry@slbg.org.uk.
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.
NBMP Level 2 bat detector workshop - Friday 24th May 2024
24th May 2024
This introductory bat detector workshop involves an evening classroom session followed by a practical field session starting around dusk. Bat sounds are broken down into four elements in order to train people's sonic memory and aid species identification using a heterodyne bat detector in the field. The focus is on pipistrelles, noctule, serotine and Daubenton's bat as these illustrate a range of different bat sounds. *Attendees can leave early if they need to. The workshop will be led by Aidan Matthews.
NBMP Level 2 bat detector workshop - Wednesday 5th June 2024
5th June 2024
This bat detector workshop involves an evening session run online via Zoom. Bat sounds are broken down into four elements in order to train people's sonic memory and aid species identification using a heterodyne bat detector in the field. The focus is on pipistrelles, noctule, serotine and Daubenton's bat as these illustrate a range of different bat sounds and are the species monitored on the NBMP Field Survey and Waterway Survey. The training will also cover some of the logistics of getting started with surveying a site near you as part of these long-running surveys and how you can make a valuable contribution to the country-level reporting on how these species are faring. The workshop will be led by Lisa Worledge.
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.
How to Organise & Lead a Bat Walk (Online Training)
24th June 2024
The workshop provides training in organising and leading a bat walk. It gives participants, who may be relatively new to bats, an introduction to bat biology, ecology and identification so they can answer basic questions from the public. It also includes how to plan and run the bat walk itself. It will be useful for anyone volunteering or working in the environmental sector and wanting to raise awareness of 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.
