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Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · 2d

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...

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Oxfordshire Bat Group @oxbatgroup.bsky.social · 1d

'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.

Using the results of extensive studies of woodland bat roosts over the last 15 years, Ian Tanner introduces a reimagining of bat society that rejects the notion that male bats live a solitary existence, only interacting with females to mate, and suggests a more holistic behaviour that benefits the bat colony, and possibly offers an explanation why European bats that had evolved to roost in trees and cliffs, suddenly switched to roosting in dwellings, barns, factories, mines, motorways and even bat boxes. With over 35 years’ experience of quiet unassuming bat work, Ian is now actively championing bat conservation and sees his role as trying to shake up a state of complacency we have fallen into that seems to happen when the government tries to control the narrative.

Ian has been running a woodland bat project for over 10 years looking primarily at the impacts on bats from conservation management on ancient semi-natural woodland.

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Oxfordshire Bat Group @oxbatgroup.bsky.social · Sep 11

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!

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Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · Sep 8

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.

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Oxfordshire Bat Group @oxbatgroup.bsky.social · Aug 15

The NBMP Waterway Survey may not lead to great social media content, but we did see quite a few Daubenton’s!

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Oxfordshire Bat Group @oxbatgroup.bsky.social · Aug 10

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!

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Oxford University Museum of Natural History @morethanadodo.bsky.social · Jul 7

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

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Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · Jul 8

🦇 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/...

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Reposted by Oxfordshire Bat Group

Gail Armstrong @gailbatlady.bsky.social · Jul 3

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

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Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · Jul 4

🦇 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...

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Oxfordshire Bat Group @oxbatgroup.bsky.social · Jun 17

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

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Oxfordshire Bat Group @oxbatgroup.bsky.social · May 29

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!

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Fiona Mathews @fionamathews.bsky.social · May 24

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

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Oxfordshire Bat Group @oxbatgroup.bsky.social · May 21

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!

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Mr and Mrs Trellis @thenorfolkcoast.bsky.social · May 20

BCT’s response to the removal of Bat Survey Guidelines from Natural England’s advice...

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

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Oxfordshire Bat Group @oxbatgroup.bsky.social · Apr 30

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!

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chrisbats.bsky.social @chrisbats.bsky.social · Mar 21

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

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Oxfordshire Bat Group @oxbatgroup.bsky.social · Apr 5

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.

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Stuart Spray @stuartspray.bsky.social · Mar 26

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...

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

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Reposted by Oxfordshire Bat Group

Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · Mar 17

🦇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 - News - Bat Conservation Trust

The government’s rhetoric is pushing for deregulation at the expense of nature.

www.bats.org.uk

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Oxfordshire Bat Group @oxbatgroup.bsky.social · Mar 14

Members of the Oxfordshire Bat Group are invited to our AGM on Thurs 3rd April! We'll review last year’s activities, share future plans, & welcome new members eager to get involved. Then the highlight, Daniel Hargreaves (Vincent Wildlife Trust) will present a talk on 'Taking Lessers to the Limits'.

Reposted by Oxfordshire Bat Group

Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · Mar 1

🦇 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.

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Reposted by Oxfordshire Bat Group

Alex Morss 🦇🏴‍☠️♾️ @alexmorss.bsky.social · Feb 27

🦇 Bats unfairly get a bad press a lot.
In my work, I see a lot of zoonotic disease scare stories – such misinformation is harmful to conservation and unhelpful on public health, it diverts resources and it can trigger wildlife persecution.

www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-even...

No evidence that the novel coronavirus identified in bats can be transmitted to humans

While a recent study on a novel coronavirus in bats provides valuable laboratory characterisation data, it cannot be seen as evidence of an infection or transmission risk in humans.

www.ecdc.europa.eu

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Reposted by Oxfordshire Bat Group

Clare Lusher @batecology.bsky.social · Feb 26

Last weekend we conducted a second NBMP bat hibernation survey at old disused mines in Derbyshire. Plenty of myotids including daubentons, and 2 BLE. Similar numbers to last year, maybe slightly down when added up. It's always a privilege (and a responsibility) to be this close to bats in torpor. 🦇

A single myotid bat in hibernation between rock faces.

A single myotid bat in hibernation hanging from rock, covered in water droplets.

A single brown long eared bat in hibernation in rock faces, with ears tucked in.

A single myotid bat in hibernation on rock faces.

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Reposted by Oxfordshire Bat Group

Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · Feb 26

🦇New #BatChat episode is out now! This week, Steve Roe shines a light on Nightwatch, a groundbreaking community science project launched in 2021!

Listen to the episode to find out more. Available in your usual platform and here: batchat.buzzsprout.com/680561/episo...
#NaturePodcast

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