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!

A big batty thank you to all our wonderful volunteers this #volunteersweek

Illustration by @bzillustrations.bsky.social

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.

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

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

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!

Understanding the Principles and Techniques of Recording Bats is our next talk via zoom on the 19th March 7.30pm-9.30pm. Martyn Cooke will be providing valuable advice on how to improve your recording techniques for better quality recordings when surveying for bats.
www.kentbatgroup.org.uk/events

The final @batconservation.bsky.social NBMP hibernation surveys are being done for the year. Many bats counted, and Herald moths too! We’re packing up some of the kit until next year now.

We’re at the Herne Bay Seaside Museum until 3 o’clock for their nature day, come along with @kentfieldclub.bsky.social and others. We’d love to see you and have a chat.

Important bat survey kit…..

Great hibernation survey today. We’ve been monitoring roost sites and recording the findings for many years as part of the @batconservation.bsky.social NBMP. All important data to keep track of the status of the UK’s bats.

Unbelievably exciting news, a Greater mouse-eared bat has been found during an #NBMP hibernation survey in Dover! This is the first record of this species in Kent since 1985.
Well done Claire and huge thanks to @fionamathews.bsky.social and Dr John Puckett for helping to confirm ID

January's NBMP Hibernation Surveys are in full swing, with many sites yielding good numbers of hibernating bats. Thank you to all licence holders and volunteers for carrying out these vital surveys.
www.kentbatgroup.org.uk/volunteering #kentbatgroup #nbmp

Our events page already has some excellent talks, events and volunteering opportunities for 2025 listed: www.kentbatgroup.org.uk/events #kentbatgroup