As part of the National Bat Monitoring Programme (NBMP) we run workshops providing different levels of training for volunteers. You may wish to simply start with our free "Discover Your Local Bats" workshop to gain some basic skills or get a flavour of other training to progress on to. If you would like more in-depth training you can go straight on to our Level 1 or Level 2 bat detector workshops, or our sound analysis workshop. Progressing through two or more levels of our training is a proven way of increasing your skill and confidence in discovering and identifying bats.

Scroll down the page for more information on each of our workshop types and upcoming events.

If your group or organisation would like to host a bat detector workshop in your area, then please email nbmp@bats.org.uk.

For information on training for professionals please visit this page.

Discover Your Local Bats

Workshops

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.

Online via Zoom - Wednesday 27th March 2024

Click here to book on

NBMP Level 1 bat detector workshop

Workshops

This introductory bat detector workshop provides you with an introduction to using a tuneable heterodyne bat detector and fundamental species identification skills. The training will enable you take part in the NBMP Waterway Survey at a waterway near you.

In-person events (not online) also include a practical field session, heading out at dusk to practise bat detecting.

Further events will be posted here when confirmed

NBMP Level 2 bat detector workshop ("Using Your Ears")

Workshops

Bat sounds are broken down into four elements in order to train your "sonic memory" which will 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. The training will enable you to take part in the NBMP Field Survey and Waterway Survey and includes an overview of NBMP surveys.

In-person events (not online) also include a practical field session, heading out at dusk to practise bat detecting.

Further events will be posted here when confirmed

Introduction to Sound Analysis

Workshops

This session provides an introduction to bat call analysis using sound analysis software. It will use software that can be downloaded free of charge, but the analysis techniques covered will be applicable to a range of different programs. As well as species ID we will look at the links between species’ ecology and call characteristics. Attendees will be given a library of recordings of bat calls to work through which they can keep afterwards for their own use.

Further events will be posted here when confirmed