Oxfordshire Bat Group
@oxbatgroup.bsky.social
We are a dedicated group of volunteers with a shared passion for bats. As a registered charity and proud partner of the Bat Conservation Trust, our mission is to promote the recording and conservation of bats across Oxfordshire and beyond.
Reposted by Oxfordshire Bat Group
Developers met ministers dozens of times over planning bill while ecologists were shut out
Developers met ministers dozens of times over planning bill while ecologists were shut out
Exclusive: Leading ecologists say warnings over threat to wildlife have been ignored in drive to build 1.5m new homes
The scale of lobbying of ministers by developers on Labour’s landmark planning changes, which seek to rip up environmental rules to boost growth, can be exposed as campaigners make last-ditch attempts to secure protections for nature.
The government published its planning and infrastructure bill in March. Before and after the bill’s publication the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, and housing minister Matthew Pennycook have met dozens of developers in numerous meetings. The body representing professional ecologists, meanwhile, has not met one minister despite requests to do so. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Developers met ministers dozens of times over planning bill while ecologists were shut out
Reposted by Oxfordshire Bat Group
Wise words by Sir John Lawton: "There is no surrogate metric that can reliably assess conservation success or failure without knowing what is happening to populations of plants and animals in the landscape."
Write to your MP today: act.bats.org.uk/urge-your-mp...
Write to your MP today: act.bats.org.uk/urge-your-mp...
November 6, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Wise words by Sir John Lawton: "There is no surrogate metric that can reliably assess conservation success or failure without knowing what is happening to populations of plants and animals in the landscape."
Write to your MP today: act.bats.org.uk/urge-your-mp...
Write to your MP today: act.bats.org.uk/urge-your-mp...
Thanks to all who attended last night, and a special thanks to Ian Tanner for his fascinating talk on late-season bat roosting. Our next talk will be held online on 4th of December, where Stuart Newson will discuss ‘Developing a European-scale Bioacoustics Data Management Platform'.
November 7, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Thanks to all who attended last night, and a special thanks to Ian Tanner for his fascinating talk on late-season bat roosting. Our next talk will be held online on 4th of December, where Stuart Newson will discuss ‘Developing a European-scale Bioacoustics Data Management Platform'.
A friendly reminder to all members and non-members that this event is coming up on Thursday, hope to see you there!
November 2, 2025 at 4:21 PM
A friendly reminder to all members and non-members that this event is coming up on Thursday, hope to see you there!
Happy Halloween, all!
October 31, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Happy Halloween, all!
Reposted by Oxfordshire Bat Group
The ‘pay-to-destroy' Bill, also known as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, returns to @houseoflords.parliament.uk today. The Bill ignores and disregards the need for evidence and will not benefit the economy, our natural heritage or society. Updated briefing here www.bats.org.uk/our-work/bio...
October 20, 2025 at 9:34 AM
The ‘pay-to-destroy' Bill, also known as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, returns to @houseoflords.parliament.uk today. The Bill ignores and disregards the need for evidence and will not benefit the economy, our natural heritage or society. Updated briefing here www.bats.org.uk/our-work/bio...
'Woodland Bats in Winter - a Reimagining of Bat Society'.
Join us at Beckley Hall on Thursday, 6th November 2025 at 7.30 pm for a talk by freelance ecologist Ian Tanner.
Details of venue: Beckley Hall, Woodperry Road, Beckley, Oxford, OX3 9UZ
Open to Members and Non-members.
Join us at Beckley Hall on Thursday, 6th November 2025 at 7.30 pm for a talk by freelance ecologist Ian Tanner.
Details of venue: Beckley Hall, Woodperry Road, Beckley, Oxford, OX3 9UZ
Open to Members and Non-members.
October 21, 2025 at 7:36 PM
'Woodland Bats in Winter - a Reimagining of Bat Society'.
Join us at Beckley Hall on Thursday, 6th November 2025 at 7.30 pm for a talk by freelance ecologist Ian Tanner.
Details of venue: Beckley Hall, Woodperry Road, Beckley, Oxford, OX3 9UZ
Open to Members and Non-members.
Join us at Beckley Hall on Thursday, 6th November 2025 at 7.30 pm for a talk by freelance ecologist Ian Tanner.
Details of venue: Beckley Hall, Woodperry Road, Beckley, Oxford, OX3 9UZ
Open to Members and Non-members.
We’re excited to announce that we’re finalising our Winter program of talks, including Woodland Bats in Winter, Bats in Churches, & Bioacoustics Data Management! If you’re an OBG member (or keen to join), we’d love to have you there! Please do send us a DM to let us know if you’d like to attend!
September 11, 2025 at 6:54 PM
We’re excited to announce that we’re finalising our Winter program of talks, including Woodland Bats in Winter, Bats in Churches, & Bioacoustics Data Management! If you’re an OBG member (or keen to join), we’d love to have you there! Please do send us a DM to let us know if you’d like to attend!
Reposted by Oxfordshire Bat Group
At the National Bat Conference we shared the trailer for season 7 of our podcast, BatChat. And now we get to share it with you all!
Returning on the 5 November.
Returning on the 5 November.
September 8, 2025 at 9:17 AM
At the National Bat Conference we shared the trailer for season 7 of our podcast, BatChat. And now we get to share it with you all!
Returning on the 5 November.
Returning on the 5 November.
The NBMP Waterway Survey may not lead to great social media content, but we did see quite a few Daubenton’s!
August 15, 2025 at 10:00 PM
The NBMP Waterway Survey may not lead to great social media content, but we did see quite a few Daubenton’s!
Had an amazing time with the Wytham Bat Project during a day of box checks led by Dani Linton. All the volunteers learned so much, and after a summer of surveys it was incredible to finally see Natterer’s, Brown Long-Eared, and Daubenton’s bats up close!
August 10, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Had an amazing time with the Wytham Bat Project during a day of box checks led by Dani Linton. All the volunteers learned so much, and after a summer of surveys it was incredible to finally see Natterer’s, Brown Long-Eared, and Daubenton’s bats up close!
Reposted by Oxfordshire Bat Group
What can be more curious than that the hand of a man, formed for grasping, that of a mole for digging, the leg of the horse, the paddle of the porpoise, and the wing of the bat, should all be constructed on the same pattern, and should include the same bones, in the same relative positions? - Darwin
July 7, 2025 at 9:00 AM
What can be more curious than that the hand of a man, formed for grasping, that of a mole for digging, the leg of the horse, the paddle of the porpoise, and the wing of the bat, should all be constructed on the same pattern, and should include the same bones, in the same relative positions? - Darwin
Reposted by Oxfordshire Bat Group
🦇 If you are new to bats you may find our e-learning resources a great way to get started! Some highlights:
- Intro to bats
- Bat care for non-bat carers
- Bat resources for teachers and youth workers
- Bat talks from conferences
More here: learn.bats.org.uk/collections/...
- Intro to bats
- Bat care for non-bat carers
- Bat resources for teachers and youth workers
- Bat talks from conferences
More here: learn.bats.org.uk/collections/...
July 8, 2025 at 8:25 AM
🦇 If you are new to bats you may find our e-learning resources a great way to get started! Some highlights:
- Intro to bats
- Bat care for non-bat carers
- Bat resources for teachers and youth workers
- Bat talks from conferences
More here: learn.bats.org.uk/collections/...
- Intro to bats
- Bat care for non-bat carers
- Bat resources for teachers and youth workers
- Bat talks from conferences
More here: learn.bats.org.uk/collections/...
Reposted by Oxfordshire Bat Group
Having a little weep.
Had to euthanise beautiful juv pip w/compound break to shoulder. Whacked by a cat while still learning to fly.
"You've been to us before" said the lady
"Have you considered keeping your cat in at night?" said I
Not an option apparently
#lovebats #batcare #keepyourcatinatnight
Had to euthanise beautiful juv pip w/compound break to shoulder. Whacked by a cat while still learning to fly.
"You've been to us before" said the lady
"Have you considered keeping your cat in at night?" said I
Not an option apparently
#lovebats #batcare #keepyourcatinatnight
July 3, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Having a little weep.
Had to euthanise beautiful juv pip w/compound break to shoulder. Whacked by a cat while still learning to fly.
"You've been to us before" said the lady
"Have you considered keeping your cat in at night?" said I
Not an option apparently
#lovebats #batcare #keepyourcatinatnight
Had to euthanise beautiful juv pip w/compound break to shoulder. Whacked by a cat while still learning to fly.
"You've been to us before" said the lady
"Have you considered keeping your cat in at night?" said I
Not an option apparently
#lovebats #batcare #keepyourcatinatnight
Reposted by Oxfordshire Bat Group
🦇 Discover the magic of summer nights in your garden, where bats take to the sky at dusk. Our gardens are vital for providing food and shelter to these fascinating creatures as their habitats dwindle: www.bats.org.uk/advice/garde...
July 4, 2025 at 4:21 PM
🦇 Discover the magic of summer nights in your garden, where bats take to the sky at dusk. Our gardens are vital for providing food and shelter to these fascinating creatures as their habitats dwindle: www.bats.org.uk/advice/garde...
A great article, that vitally includes the protection of bats! www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Insects are dying: here are 25 easy and effective ways you can help protect them
From turning out the lights to letting leaves rot, these small steps can create big changes at home or in the wild
www.theguardian.com
June 17, 2025 at 2:38 PM
A great article, that vitally includes the protection of bats! www.theguardian.com/environment/...
An evening of busy pipistrelle activity assisting on a survey as a biodiversity volunteer for Oxfordshire County Council. It’s a great way to get involved, and you can help with surveys on badgers, newts, water voles, otters, and reptiles too!
May 29, 2025 at 4:06 PM
An evening of busy pipistrelle activity assisting on a survey as a biodiversity volunteer for Oxfordshire County Council. It’s a great way to get involved, and you can help with surveys on badgers, newts, water voles, otters, and reptiles too!
Reposted by Oxfordshire Bat Group
Delighted to have found this Grey long-eared bat (Endangered in UK) at #seatonwetlands #wildeastdevon #devon last night. Its broad wings enable it to fly slowly (and almost hover) as it collect insects off leaves. @naturalengland.bsky.social @batconservation.bsky.social 🦇 #wildlife #nature
May 24, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Delighted to have found this Grey long-eared bat (Endangered in UK) at #seatonwetlands #wildeastdevon #devon last night. Its broad wings enable it to fly slowly (and almost hover) as it collect insects off leaves. @naturalengland.bsky.social @batconservation.bsky.social 🦇 #wildlife #nature
Hugely enjoyed James Shipman’s ‘Identifying Bats of Britain and Ireland: A Field Worker’s Guide’. Packed with informative and useful tips gleaned from years of experience - the ideal tool as we enter the busy season!
May 21, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Hugely enjoyed James Shipman’s ‘Identifying Bats of Britain and Ireland: A Field Worker’s Guide’. Packed with informative and useful tips gleaned from years of experience - the ideal tool as we enter the busy season!
Reposted by Oxfordshire Bat Group
BCT’s response to the removal of Bat Survey Guidelines from Natural England’s advice...
www.bats.org.uk/news/2025/05...
www.bats.org.uk/news/2025/05...
BCT’s response to the removal of Bat Survey Guidelines from Natural England’s advice - News - Bat Conservation Trust
Natural England has removed the Bat Survey Guidelines from their standing advice for protected species and development. Read BCT's response here.
www.bats.org.uk
May 20, 2025 at 8:50 AM
BCT’s response to the removal of Bat Survey Guidelines from Natural England’s advice...
www.bats.org.uk/news/2025/05...
www.bats.org.uk/news/2025/05...
Lovely evening to do a sunset survey for the National Bat Monitoring Programme. Saw common and soprano pipistrelles, as well as my first noctule of the year!
April 30, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Lovely evening to do a sunset survey for the National Bat Monitoring Programme. Saw common and soprano pipistrelles, as well as my first noctule of the year!
Reposted by Oxfordshire Bat Group
Finally out. New paper Full pelage Ultra-Violet fluorescence occurs in both lesser horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros & Blasius's horseshoe bat R. blasii www.italian-journal-of-mammalogy.it/Full-pelage-...
Great to be part of the team @henryschofield.bsky.social @vincentwt.bsky.social
Great to be part of the team @henryschofield.bsky.social @vincentwt.bsky.social
March 21, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Finally out. New paper Full pelage Ultra-Violet fluorescence occurs in both lesser horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros & Blasius's horseshoe bat R. blasii www.italian-journal-of-mammalogy.it/Full-pelage-...
Great to be part of the team @henryschofield.bsky.social @vincentwt.bsky.social
Great to be part of the team @henryschofield.bsky.social @vincentwt.bsky.social
A huge thank you to Daniel Hargreaves for his fun and informative talk after our AGM. Incredible to learn more about lesser horseshoe bats and all the great work that the Vincent Wildlife Trust are doing.
April 5, 2025 at 8:50 AM
A huge thank you to Daniel Hargreaves for his fun and informative talk after our AGM. Incredible to learn more about lesser horseshoe bats and all the great work that the Vincent Wildlife Trust are doing.
Reposted by Oxfordshire Bat Group
The Government’s Housing Bill Branded a ‘Licence To Kill’ Protected Species for Property Developers.
My latest for @bylinetimes.bsky.social
@batconservation.bsky.social @cieem.bsky.social @dom70.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2025/03/26/l...
My latest for @bylinetimes.bsky.social
@batconservation.bsky.social @cieem.bsky.social @dom70.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2025/03/26/l...
The Government's Housing Bill Branded a 'Licence To Kill' Protected Species for Property Developers
Environmental groups and conservationists slam the Government's Planning and Infrastructure Bill
bylinetimes.com
March 26, 2025 at 3:30 PM
The Government’s Housing Bill Branded a ‘Licence To Kill’ Protected Species for Property Developers.
My latest for @bylinetimes.bsky.social
@batconservation.bsky.social @cieem.bsky.social @dom70.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2025/03/26/l...
My latest for @bylinetimes.bsky.social
@batconservation.bsky.social @cieem.bsky.social @dom70.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2025/03/26/l...
Reposted by Oxfordshire Bat Group
🦇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
Better planning needs real solutions, not blame games. BCT's thoughts on this here: www.bats.org.uk/news/2025/03...
#bats #planning
Better planning needs real solutions, not blame games - News - Bat Conservation Trust
The government’s rhetoric is pushing for deregulation at the expense of nature.
www.bats.org.uk
March 17, 2025 at 3:15 PM
🦇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
Better planning needs real solutions, not blame games. BCT's thoughts on this here: www.bats.org.uk/news/2025/03...
#bats #planning