
National Bat Conference 2018 - Jessica Taylor
The National Bat Conference is the biggest event in the bat calendar and this year returns as a hybrid event! An opportunity to hear from experts, develop your skills and connect with bat workers from across the country - catch up with old friends and make new ones.
The National Bat Conference 2023 took place on 15-17 September 2023 at the University of Nottingham and was kindly sponsored by Wildlife Acoustics.
National Bat Conference 2023 details so far...
The National Bat Conference will take place at the University of Nottingham's University Park Campus on 15-17 September 2023 as a hybrid event.
The programme will include a great selection of talks, a topical panel discussion, 2 workshop sessions as well as lots of networking opportunities, posters, exhibition stands and more.
Keynote speaker - Professor Kirsty Park, University of Stirling (speaking on Saturday morning) - From hibernating horseshoes and bats on the pill, to how biodiversity responds to ecological restoration
Confirmed speakers:
Saturday
- Morgan Hughes, University of Wolverhampton - Interspecific cohabitation of maternity colonies of noctule (Nyctalus noctula) and Daubenton’s bats (Myotis daubentonii) in woodland tree roosts.
- Anna Berthinussen, Conservation First - Bat Conservation: Global evidence for the effects of interventions
- Kate Jones, Natural England - Bats in Churches - summary of work and findings
- Tina Wiffen, MMU - Mass pipistrelle hibernation sites
- Kit Stoner, BCT - An update on the work of the Bat Conservation Trust
- Panel discussion - exploring policy and bat conservation e.g. incorporating bats into initiatives such as Local Nature Recovery Strategies and Biodiversity Net Gain
- Marc Roswag, HAW Hamburg, Universität Hohenheim - Bat protection in the sky: investigating effects of unmanned aerial systems for acoustic bat surveys
- Jim Mullholland & Carys Peotto, BATS Research and Training - Surveying trees for bats; a new hope
- Jan Collins, BCT - Launch of the Bat Surveys for Professional Ecologists: good Practice Guidelines 4th edition
- Steph Murphy & Daniel Hargreaves, VWT - For the greater good
- Lisa Worledge, BCT - Bat ringing guidelines and database
- Thomas Foxley, University of the West of England
- Sonja Vernes - Bat 1K Project
- Hannah van Hesteren, BCT - Nightwatch Project
- Megan Golding & Susie Gold, APHA - EBLV1 phylogenetics in England and the temporal dynamics of serotine populations
We will also hear from the winners of various awards including the ROOST Award, the Pete Guest Award, the Vincent Weir Award and the Kate Barlow Award.
More speakers to be announced soon...
Workshops
Ticket prices
Early bird prices will be available for in-person tickets until 12 June 2023 (BCT member/non-member)
- Saturday or Sunday only - £115/£120
- Whole weekend - £158/£163
From 12 June, in-person ticket prices will increase to:
- Saturday or Sunday only - £130/£135
- Whole weekend - £173/£178
Virtual ticket prices
- Saturday or Sunday only - £60/£65
- Whole weekend - £105/£110
NB virtual tickets will include all the talks live or as recordings if you can't attend live as well as a limited selection of workshops. It will not be possible to include virtual attendees in all the networking elements, but there will be Zoom rooms open for networking with other virtual attendees if you would like.
Optional extras
- Friday or Saturday 2 course evening meal £21pp
- Friday or Saturday B&B accommodation in halls (single en-suite room) £60 pppn
- Saturday night Conference Dinner: 3 courses, wine and entertainment including ceilidh £50 pp

Conference sponsor: Wildlife Acoustics
Sponsorship and Exhibiting
There are only a few sponsorship and exhibitor spaces still available, if you are interested, please contact Naomi Webster, Training and Conferences Manager for details: nwebster@bats.org.uk
In 2022, the conference took place at Yarnfield Park Conference Centre near Stafford and on Zoom on 24 - 25 September 2022.
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