BatChat

This week we visit Tattershall Church. As we’ll hear in this episode, Holy Trinity is a very important place for bats, with two maternity roosts present along with a number of other species. The site has been part of the National Bat Monitoring Programme for many years.

The church is a great example of co-existence with a large number of bats and the church community have built great relationships with Lincolnshire Bat Group and the...

This week we sit down with Edward Wells from the Somerset Bat Group and talk about bats in the county and the work being done to protect them. Edward’s interest in bats started when he was a child and has seen the bat group turn 40 with years of hands-on conservation. We discuss the county’s varied landscapes, how bat conservation has changed over the years, and some of the Somerset Bat Group’s key successes. Edward also reflects o...

North of Settle in the Yorkshire Dales lies the Hoffman Kiln, a relic of the industrial revolution. It's now an important site for bats of the Dales all year round. In this episode we chat to Dave Anderson and Dave Fisher who on Friday afternoons, in a term they've coined as Fieldwork Fridays, they spend 90 minutes surveying the kiln for bats. And they've racked up an impressive collection of data in studying bat beh...

In this episode of BatChat, we explore the 50-year history of the Vincent Wildlife Trust (VWT) and its vital role in bat conservation. I speak with CEO Lucy Rogers about her role with VWT, the organisation's founding by the Hon. Vincent Weir and its ongoing efforts to protect our rarest bat populations here in the UK. With Jenny O'Neil and Phil Morgan we discuss the importance of community involvement, collaboration with ...

S7E68 We're back with a brand new series and we're starting this exciting new collection of interviews with our President, Chris Packham. We last heard from Chris five years ago back in Episode 14 but this time Steve met the Springwatch presenter at the Natural History Museum.

We discuss the new location of this year's Springwatch (and the amazing footage of the soprano pipistrelles at Haddon Hall) and what is needed ...

We introduce our upcoming series, BatChat, premiering on November 5th. The series will explore the intriguing world of bats while also highlighting wildlife conservation and the amazing people working to conserve them. We conduct field interviews with bat conservationists to gain insights into their efforts and the challenges they face. In this series we'll be speaking to our President Chris Packham, bat workers studying a his...

We’ve hit a milestone - and it’s all thanks to you! In this special bonus episode, host Steve Roe takes you behind the scenes of BatChat: from the podcast’s beginnings in 2018 to the present day. Discover how the show came to be created, what goes into producing each episode, and enjoy a previously unreleased gem from one of our most loved guests: Dr Bob Stebbings.

What’s Inside:

• 🦇 The origin story: How a passion for bats (and a...

S6E66 In this episode, we're in the charming market town of Frome in Somerset, where the locals take part in a hands-on citizen science event. Armed with bat detectors, participants are sent out around town to record any bats they spot.

What makes this event even more exciting is the use of iNaturalist – a popular platform that collects and shares real-time wildlife data. As participants venture out at dusk, their bat sightings...

S6E65 In this noisy episode, we’re taking you to the heart of the Restore Nature Now march in Central London, where 60,000+ passionate individuals gathered on June 22nd 2024, to demand stronger action for nature. The Bat Conservation Trust formed part of the march in the 'air' block which started adjacent to Hyde Park where Biggles the bat flew high above the crowds. Steve speaks to people as the march progresses to Downi...

S6E64 In this episode of BatChat, we’re shining a spotlight on NightWatch, a groundbreaking community science project from the Bat Conservation Trust. Launched in 2021, NightWatch is the only initiative of its kind in the UK, helping people uncover the hidden world of nighttime wildlife while breaking down barriers that prevent communities from connecting with nature.

Join host Steve Roe as he chats with Siobhan Dempsey at the Resto...

S6E63 Climate change is shifting the landscape—literally. But what does that mean for wildlife, especially bats? This episode takes us into the Connecting People and Landscapes in a Changing Climate project, a hands-on effort bringing farmers, landowners, and communities together across the South-West to make the countryside work for both people and nature.

Thanks to support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the project is di...

S6E62
🌙 The Bat Night Market
Imagine a world without bats. Ever heard of a market that comes alive at night—just like bats? We visit the Bat Night Market, an immersive event blending art, science, and nature. Inspired by bats and nocturnal life, this market offers a unique experience like no other. Find out more about what’s in store!
🔗 More about the Bat Night Market

🦇 Nene Valley Bat Group Update
Juliette Butte...

S6E61 Recorded in the winter of 2024, in this episode we travel to the Northumberland coastline to a National Trust property called Seaton Delaval Hall. We’re there because this property is home to the UK’s largest-known pipistrelle bat hibernation roost. For many years we haven’t really known where pipistrelle bats go to hibernate. Traditional hibernation surveys in underground structures rarely turn up pipistrelles and when they ...

S6E60. In this episode, we venture into the ancient Pengelli Forest in Pembrokeshire to uncover the story behind one of the region's most remarkable bat discoveries. Back in 2000, Margaret Clarke discovered presence of barbastelle bats, a species known for its elusive nature.

Joined by Margaret Clarke and Den Vaughn, we revisit the discovery that changed our understanding of bats in Pembrokeshire and discuss how barbastelles ha...

S6E59 This week, we’re diving into an evening adventure at the stunning Tintinhull Gardens in Somerset, owned by the National Trust. Joining the Somerset Bat Group, we’re on the hunt for one of the UK’s rarest bats – the elusive grey long-eared bat.

In this episode, you’ll hear:
🦇 What makes the grey long-eared bat so rare and fascinating
🦇 The Somerset Bat Group’s efforts to discover more about this species within the Cou...

S6Ep58 In this episode of BatChat, Steve sits down with Phil Atkin, the creator of a groundbreaking bat detector that’s making waves in the bat conservation community. Using the Raspberry Pi Pico computer, Phil has designed a cost-effective way for people to build their own bat detectors—for just £15!

Join us as we delve into:
🦇 How Phil’s love for bats sparked his innovative journey.
💻 The tech behind the Raspberry Pi Pic...

Step into the nocturnal world of the Knapp and Papermill Reserve with the Worcestershire Bat Group! In this immersive field recording, join us for a unique bat walk through the varied habitats of this Worcestershire Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve.

This episode captures a real-time adventure as we explore the reserve at night, listening in on bat detectors and identifying an impressive array of bat species, including common and sopran...

S6E56 We’re back with a brand new series! At the 2024 National Bat Conference at the University of Reading, zoologist and wildlife TV presenter Megan McCubbin joined us to chair a thought-provoking debate on ethical conservation. In between sessions, Megan sat down with Steve to chat about her career, her encounters with bats, and her involvement in the Restore Nature Now march earlier this summer.

Plus, we’ll bring you a couple of ...

Get ready for an action-packed Series 6 of BatChat! This season, we're bringing you breaking news from the bat world, and that’s just the beginning. We’ll take you on a twilight bat walk, explore a buzzing night market with a twist and head deep into Somerset’s countryside in search of the elusive grey long-eared bat. Plus, we’ll venture into the heart of Pembrokeshire to uncover the secrets of a legendary woodland. Series 6 i...