Batty Awards for Talent and Achievement
As part of BatFest, we like to celebrate the range of talents and achievements that are found across the bat world.
Our Batty Awards for 2023 are open for nominations and submissions!
NB Individuals can be nominated more than once by different people and may be nominated for multiple awards.
Any questions, email nwebster@bats.org.uk
Batty Awards for Talent and Achievement 2023:
- BCT Hall of Fame
- Young Batty Laureate
- Batty Laureate (adult)
- Church Support (Sponsored by the Bats in Churches Project)
BCT Hall of Fame
The BCT Hall of Fame celebrates figures from any field within the world of bats (professional or voluntary) in recognition of their significant contribution to bat conservation
Nominations should be supported by an explanatory statement (of at least 250 words) describing the nominee’s contribution to bat conservation
Nominees can be proposed by anyone.
Nominations can be made posthumously.
Individuals can be nominated more than once.
Nominations are made through the online nomination form.
Final selection of those being inducted will be by the Hall of Fame selection team, appointed by BCT. From the second year, the selection team will include at least one representative from the BCT Hall of Fame.
In extraordinary circumstances, BCT will have discretionary powers to withdraw nominations or remove inducted members from the BCT Hall of Fame e.g. if in BCT’s judgement, the individual has brought bats or BCT into disrepute or engaged in unethical behaviour
Nominations should be emailed to nwebster@bats.org.uk
Young Batty Laureate 2023 Competition
This award is for a piece of creative writing involving bats of up to 500 words. It could be a story, a poem or just letting your imagination run wild with words about bats.
The Young Batty Laureate Award is open to children aged 6-12 years old.
Submissions should be written by the child and accompanied by the relevant entry form which includes permission from a parent or guardian.
Judging for each Batty Laureate Award will be by a panel appointed by BCT.
Adult Batty Laureate 2023 Competition
This award is for a piece of creative writing involving bats of up to 1500 words. It could be poetry, prose or an extract of a larger piece such as a play script.
Submissions should be written by an adult/young person over 12 years old and accompanied by the relevant entry form. The entry form should also include permission from a parent or guardian if you are under 18 years old.
Eligibility – anyone is welcome to enter (including BCT staff) apart from the members of the Batty Laureate judging panels.
Judging for each Batty Laureate Award will be by a panel appointed by BCT.
Batty Award for Talent and Achievement for Church Support (sponsored by the Bats in Churches Project)
This award is for people who have provided significant support to a church (or churches) with bats. The support could involve help with cleaning, advising church leaders on bats or heritage, giving talks and running engagement activities for members of the church community, or any other form of support, either as part of the Bats in Churches Project or independently.
2023 Winners: Barry Collins, Sylvia & Roger Jiggins and Nigel Millbourne
2022 Winners: Ann Gleave, Jenny Harris and Peter Proudlove
2021 Winners: Phil Parker and Megan Greef
Batty Award for Talent and Achievement for Surveying with the Bats in Churches Study
This award was for people who have gone above and beyond to engage with the Bats in Churches Study, the last season of which was summer 2022.
Nominees could have undertaken surveys at multiple churches, trained other local volunteers, supported churches they have surveyed to get help with their bats, etc. This was a closed award with nominations coming from Bats in Churches Study team and judged by members of Bats in Churches Project Steering Group.
2022 Winners: James Bissett
2021 Winners: Phil Atkin and Ilene Sterns
