We are already 6 days into 2026 and quite the coldest start to a year, with snowfall in many places across Kent and a thick frosty layer of ice on the ground. Many of our volunteers are now gearing themselves up for the first NBMP Hibernation Surveys. Wrap up warm!
www.kentbatgroup.org.uk/support-us
New report shows people don’t want new homes to be built at nature’s expense www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happen...
🦇 We are still receiving calls for injured and grounded bats, if you do find a bat that needs help, please contact the Bat Conservation Trust National Bat Helpline on 0345 1300 228 or report it via our website www.kentbatgroup.org.uk or simply google "help I've found a bat" for advice
We are delighted to announce that Naomi Webster, Training and Conferences Manager at @batconservation.bsky.social will be giving our talk at this year's AGM meeting this Friday 3rd October.
For more info please see our website: www.kentbatgroup.org.uk/events/our-agm
🦇It's October! What are bats up to now?
More mating is taking place, and building up fat reserves is becoming crucial to survive the winter season. Bats will start looking for suitable hibernation sites, and beginning periods of torpor.
Our AGM has had to be moved to FRIDAY 3rd October at Lenham Community Centre.
Please keep an eye on our website for more details including our guest speaker for the evening: www.kentbatgroup.org.uk/events/our-agm
For those of you keeping track www.batnames.org is the website that tracks new bat species recorded around the globe each year, and the site has just updated their count to 1500! What amazing news!
🦇The Badger and the Bat is available to purchase from my Esty shop bizzyillustrations.etsy.com and I will donate 5% sale profits to @batconservation.bsky.social and @kentbatgroup.org.uk with every purchase.
Don't forget to ask if you would like me to sign it 🦡❤️🦇
Well our volunteers have had a very busy start to August, leading lots of bat walks across the county and attending events, and there's still lots more to come!
If you would like to become a volunteer all you need to do is join: www.kentbatgroup.org.uk
The Great Stour RiverFest 2025 runs from 21 -28 September this year with various activities to take part in, from yoga to guided river walks and of course the all popular bat walks led by our very own Shirley Thompson MBE, for more info: www.kentbatgroup.org.uk/events?start... #visitcanterbury
Tickets are now available to purchase online for a Bat Walk being organised by Open Faversham on the 22nd August at St Mary of Charity Church in Faversham, led by volunteers from the Kent Bat Group : openfaversham.info?event=2161
Limited tickets so be quick!
🦇 Another exciting find for Kent this year! First a Greater mouse-eared and now a Grey long-eared! What will be next?!
🦇 A huge shout out to all @kentbatgroup.org.uk bat carers and bat carers across the country looking after displaced bat pups after the sudden hot weather ❤️🦇❤️
If you need help with a bat call @batconservation.bsky.social helpline 0345 1300 228 or Google "help I've found a bat" for advice
#lovebats
A big batty thank you to all our wonderful volunteers this #volunteersweek
Illustration by @bzillustrations.bsky.social
🦇 #Recruiting ! We are looking for a Membership Officer to join our small but mighty Communications and Fundraising Department!
You'll help to maintain and develop positive relationships with existing members & help with recruitment.
More info and how to apply: www.bats.org.uk/the-trust/jo...
Would you like to learn how to identify bats and take part in surveys for the National Bat Monitoring Programme (NBMP)?
If so this @batconservation.bsky.social training session is for you.
This Wed 30 April 6:30pm - 8:00pm via Zoom.
more info and tickets: www.tickettailor.com/events/bctev...
🦇We did!!! We reached our target for our #GreenMatchFund campaign. Thank you to everyone who shared and/or donated.
We still have 1 day left on the campaign; donations will no longer be matched but they are still very much needed: donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...
🦇The Planning and Infrastructure Bill (PIB) is making its way through Parliament - and we urgently need your help to protect bats and other wildlife. Please ask your MP to help protect wildlife in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
More information here: www.bats.org.uk/news/2025/04...
Our fabulous @bzillustrations.bsky.social did a marvellous job last night speaking to the Faversham Natural History group all about our UK bats. Crowborough, a male Common pipistrelle, was a great ambassador and even charmed a few bat-phobic guests. All safety protocols followed.
The Kent Bat Group were delighted to attend the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) campus in Canterbury today, as part of their #GreenWeek2025
We had some great conversations with students keen on learning more about bat conservation, and some shared their amazing work involving bats with us.
Well said Chris Packham 🦇❤️🦇 Please do contact your MP about this madness! @batconservation.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
The Infrastructure & Planning Bill will be a disaster for bats and other wildlife, we urge our members to contact their MPs to object.
A template letter can be found www.kentbatgroup.org.uk/bats-in-kent...
The 2nd reading is tomorrow - please email urgently.
@batconservation.bsky.social
🦇We are deeply concerned by the government’s latest rhetoric, which wrongly blames bats for slowing house building and infrastructure projects.
Better planning needs real solutions, not blame games. BCT's thoughts on this here: www.bats.org.uk/news/2025/03...
#bats #planning
Be quick - online booking closes today
Martyn Cooke, a bat acoustic expert and representative for SonoBat, will be giving our next talk via Zoom on Wednesday 19th March from 7.30pm - 9.30pm.
A link will be sent to members nearer the time. Not a member? Sign up now via our website
www.kentbatgroup.org.uk/events
We’ve had a few calls recently about bats being found grounded. Advice can be sought from @batconservation.bsky.social Helpline on 0345 1300 228 and then reported via our website www.kentbatgroup.org.uk/help-ive-fou...
Sean Hanna and @bzillustrations.bsky.social gave a talk to students from the Royal College of Art about bats that hibernate, roost and forage at the Oare GunPowder Works, the students ideas for bringing nature and people together in art are truly inspiring - so this will definitely be worth a visit!
🦇 We're getting closer to spring! It is getting warmer and the days are getting longer.
Bats may begin to emerge and signs of limited activity can be seen. There are small numbers feeding as it gets warmer. In bad weather, they may become torpid.
Last call! Midnight tonight deadline to apply for a PhD with my group on serotine bat #ecology, helping develop rabies control strategy.
Info here (nb. overseas fees waivers available & residency restrictions not relevant as project is field/desk not lab). www.sussex.ac.uk/study/fees-f... #bats
