1. What does the law say about protecting bats?

• You cannot disturb, capture, injure, or kill a bat.
• You cannot damage a breeding or resting place of a bat – even if bats are absent at the time.
• You cannot handle a bat without a licence (some allowance given for emergencies and bat care).
• You cannot offer a bat for sale or exchange whether alive or dead.

2. Planning questions: E.g. Can we survey an area of land, near your home, as there are plans to build houses on it and you have seen bats flying around?

Unfortunately, the Bat Group cannot conduct any surveys where planning is involved. As a small voluntary group, we do not have the expertise or insurance in place to advise in such matters. If bats are threatened, you should report the matter to the local authority and the Bat Conservation Trust. If bats (or their roost sites) are being harmed, you should report the incident directly to the police. In other circumstances, you can find professional ecologists (via the internet) to offer advice.

3. I want to learn more about the bats on my land. Can you come and survey the area?

Good question, but in most cases, we simply do not have the volunteer numbers to survey individual properties. We will consider exceptional cases, but it does depend on availability of volunteers.

If you are a ranger or warden looking for support, you may like to look at the benefits of joining the Bat Group in our membership section.

4. Can we help with an injured bat?

No. You should report an injured or grounded bat to the Bat Conservation Trust. Details are on their web site: https://www.bats.org.uk/advice.

5. Can you handle an injured bat or move one threatened with harm?

Yes, sometimes you will have to move a bat from harm’s way. See the Bat Conservation Trust web site for further details: https://www.bats.org.uk/advice/help-ive-found-a-bat.

Your local Animal Rescue Centre may also be able to help.

6. Do we keep records of bats?

No, all bat records are now submitted to the Gloucestershire Centre for Environmental Records (GCER) at www GCER.co.uk.

7. Do we offer bat walks and talks?

Yes, these are an important part of our mission, but it depends entirely on what is being asked for and the availability of a volunteer to deliver the request. In general, the person requesting the event is responsible for the safety (and safeguarding) of participants, will have carried out an appropriate risk assessment and have adequate liability insurance in place.

8. Do we attend biological themed festivals and events?

Yes, we like to support these events, but it depends on whether we have members available on the requested dates. Apply through our web site using the email address info@glosbats.org.uk.

9. Can anyone join the Bat Group?

Yes, anyone can join the Bat Group. Please see the ‘Membership’ section for further details.

10. I have recently qualified as an ecologist and would like to gain more experience. Can you help?

Yes, we can help. We have a lot of enquiries from ecologists (and people wishing to train as ecologists) asking if they can gain experience with bats. Whilst keen to support such requests, the route is always the same: Join the bat group.

We do not promise to provide specific training, but inevitably, members will have opportunities to gain experience which they may otherwise miss, e.g. checking bat boxes or surveying woods. Some of the benefit of membership are given in question 11 and repeated in the membership section on our web site.

Note: Activities are widely spread across the county so some form of transport will be necessary.

11. What are the benefits of joining a Bat Group?

• Members receive regular information bulletins from the Bat Conservation Trust covering research, conservation matters, training opportunities, conference information and all manner of bat related content.
• Depending on who is available, we offer the opportunity to help with bat box checks and surveys.
• We aim to have about three visiting speakers per annum (often via Zoom these days).
• We hold occasional practical events as opportunities present themselves.
• Bat Group members also have access to our Underground Section (at an additional modest cost), although this section is currently oversubscribed.
• Networking opportunities can be valuable when members meet.

12. Where can I get information about bat boxes?

In the first instance, please direct your enquiries to the Bat Conservation Trust web site at: https://www.bats.org.uk/our-work/buildings-planning-and-development/bat-boxes/putting-up-your-box.

If you cannot find what you need to know, then send us your question and we will do our best to answer it.

13. How is the Bat Group Committee made up?

We are all volunteers who want to support bat conservation and enthuse others to do the same. We have about 100 ordinary members which includes several committee members. It is not always possible to fill committee posts, and we are always keen to talk to people who would like to join. This can be very a rewarding experience with learning opportunities as well as providing purpose to your bat work.