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
27th July 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
27th July 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
27th July 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.
Inclusion Challenges and Opportunities for Bat Groups - online gathering
30th July 2024
An opportunity for us to gather and explore the challenges and opportunities around inclusion for bat groups across the British Islands. We can exchange ideas, share tips and advice, explore challenges and discuss what learning, research or resources might help us all to be more inclusive and get more people involved with bat conservation. Bring your questions, success stories or challenges - wherever you and your bat group are on your inclusion journey, everyone is welcome. This is a free event. There is an option at booking to give a donation. This will go towards supporting the important work of bat groups through the Partner Group Support Fund: awarding grants and contributing time to bat group projects, and bursary places to the National Conference. Please consider giving an optional donation to help us continue to offer financial support that keeps up with increasing costs.
Scoping Surveys for Arborists - online
1st August 2024
In this Lantra-accredited course, developed by the Bat Conservation Trust and supported by the Arboricultural Association, we will provide you with the awareness of bat ecology, behaviour and legal knowledge you need to carry out tree works with consideration for the potential effects on bats and their habitats. Through a self-guided practical task, our expert tutors will also help you to practice applying method for assessing bat potential trees, identifying any risk of roost destruction or bat disturbance and, where necessary, to seek assistance. This course is the first in a series of 2 courses is designed for to give arboriculture professionals a comprehensive awareness of bats. Participants do not need any prior knowledge before attending this course. Please note this is a basic awareness course - it will not give participants the knowledge or skills to carry out full bat surveys. Enquire for discount details: training@bats.org.uk
9th August 2024
(In)audible Presences is an ongoing, long-term exploration of the documentation practices associated with wildlife sound recording. Via an exhibited archive of typewritten A5 pages, the project challenges established approaches to sonic cataloguing, querying institutionally driven preferences for logical categorisation and notational accuracy. It calls for a creative renormalisation of how we document other species' sounds, encouraging experimental approaches to natural history archiving through the use of typewriter, paper and ink. By deliberately foregrounding inefficient/outdated methodologies for the description and transcription of wildlife sounds, (In)audible Presences seeks to destabilise the ‘digitised precision’ of current field-recording practice, drawing attention to the ambiguous, the incomplete, the unknown. And what better source materials for this process than the mysterious ultrasonic vocalisations of bats? Inherently inaudible to humans, propagating in darkness and lending themselves to myriad perceptual distortions, the rhythmically complex echolocations of British and Irish bat species (recorded using a handheld ultrasound detector) serve as a creative foundation for the archive, acting as aural scaffolds for textual rhythm and the articulation of field experience on paper. This is a free event.
How to Organise & Lead a Bat Walk (Online Training)
9th August 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. The course will take place over 2 sessions 1 week apart. Each session will last approx 90 minutes and there will be some "homework" to complete between the sessions to discuss in session 2.
Bat Walk with Evesham Bat Care and Gloucestershire Bat Group for International Bat Night
23rd August 2024
Come and join Evesham Bat Care and Gloucestershire Bat Group for a bat walk to celebrate International Bat Night! The walk will begin just after sunset. Warm clothes and sturdy footwear are advised and a torch/head torch would be useful but not mandatory. This event is charged at £5 per person.
Bat Walk with Evesham Bat Care and Gloucestershire Bat Group for International Bat Night
24th August 2024
Come and join Evesham Bat Care and Gloucestershire Bat Group for a bat walk to celebrate International Bat Night! The walk will begin just after sunset. Warm clothes and sturdy footwear are advised and a torch/head would be useful but not mandatory. This event is charged at £5 per person.
Advanced Bat Survey Techniques - fully booked!
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 - online theory day
2nd September 2024
1 day of training online covering the theoretical details of how to use 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. The online theory day is a great way to grow your knowledge if you are already involved with practical activities locally.
The 11th European Bat Detector Workshop (Spain)
6th September 2024
In connection to the European Bat Research Symposium every three years, since 1991, it has been a tradition to organise a bat detector workshop just before or after the conference. This year's workshop will be located in the village Mura, which is in the edge of Sant Llorenç del Munt i l'Obac Natural Park, just north of Barcelona. The objective of the workshop is to improve training and knowledge of the latest technology and experience on field identification of flying European bats. This includes the use of various detectors, both active and passive, but also to improve your skills around bat call analysis software. The mixture of novice and well experienced bat workers (and everything between) enhances the learning process by self awareness and development. This workshop is aimed at idealistic bat workers (enthusiasts/idealists, NGO's, scientists and students) who will work with bats in the future. Students and NGO's may apply for a reduced registration fee. Commercial bat workers will be accepted if there is space. The workshop stretches over four nights, giving three full days with lectures, training on software and workshops. The workshop is organised on a self-cost basis, where expenses cover only physical costs, such as material, food and accommodation. If you use the opportunity of the offers some of the manufacturers are giving to the participants, you might even end up getting a net free trip from most of Europe.
European Protected Species for Foresters – Presentation & field walk
10th September 2024
This course is designed to raise awareness of European Protected Species and Bats when undertaking forestry operations. There will be a classroom-based presentation led by industry experts & then you will be taken on a field walk to further raise awareness of species habitat indicators, field signs and management challenges. Tom Fairfield and BCT (Sonia Reveley) will act as speakers for the event. Guest speakers from The Forestry Commission & Natural England will also be in attendance to provide an update on EPS legislation and good practice guidance.
European Protected Species for Foresters – Presentation & field walk
11th September 2024
This course is designed to raise awareness of European Protected Species and Bats when undertaking forestry operations. There will be a classroom-based presentation led by industry experts & then you will be taken on a field walk to further raise awareness of species habitat indicators, field signs and management challenges. Tom Fairfield and BCT (Sonia Reveley) will act as speakers for the event. Guest speakers from The Forestry Commission & Natural England will also be in attendance to provide an update on EPS legislation and good practice guidance.
13th September 2024
The programme will include a great selection of talks, a topical panel discussion, 2 workshop sessions as well as lots of networking opportunities.
Advanced Bat Survey Techniques - fully booked!
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.
Advanced Bat Survey Techniques - online theory day
17th September 2024
1 day of training online covering the theoretical details of how to use 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. The online theory day is a great way to grow your knowledge if you are already involved with practical activities locally.
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.
Bat Tracking Methodologies Conference - Booking open!
8th November 2024
The Bat Tracking Methodologies Conference is an opportunity for bat tracking practitioners to share their methods, experience and knowledge of bat tracking and how the data is analysed and presented, with the aim of collating information and insights to improve our understanding of best practice when tracking bats and presenting the results.
Secondary Roost Surveys for Arborists
28th November 2024
This in-person course follows on from our Scoping surveys for arborists course and teaches participants how to undertake a secondary roost survey including use of an endoscope. You will explore in more depth the practical skills needed in the field, the methods that can be used to rule out the potential of features as suitable bat roosts, learn the appropriate use of endoscopes and be given guidance on what can and cannot be done without a bat licence.
