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We are currently able to offer to our members the following training workshops. They are designed around the Roost Conservation Licence syllabus with some add-ons to cover the other aspects of SLBG work.

The workshops are aimed at delivering the aims of the bat group and we have included below a brief summary of each workshop so that you can easily determine which ones you are interested in attending.

Please do note that at present our workshops are delivered to you by our current trainers free of charge, despite the large time investment and effort they put into planning and delivering these workshops to you. If you book a place on a workshop and find later that you will be unable to attend the trainers need at least 72 hours notice prior to the start of the workshop. For shorter notice (emergencies/illness only) please ring the trainers direct.

Unfortunately it has been the case in the past that some members have not contacted the trainer or even attended the workshops. This delays the start of the workshops for all, wastes bat group resources and prevents the place from being given to other members. As previous efforts to prevent this have been unsuccessful, we have decided that in the event that the trainers are not contacted and two workshops not attended by an individual, a place on any future workshops will only be accepted after a booking fee of £50.00 has been paid. This will go to the bat group to cover costs of missed workshops.

Primarily this workshop is aimed for the beginner but is also useful for existing members. The workshop focuses on the aims of the group and the work we do. It covers a slide presentation on UK bats, with fairly detailed discussion on ecology and biology, Bats of the World and hopefully that chance to meet some of our long-term captive bats. We introduce our training system and the different roles with9in bat conservation that you can carry out as an SLBG member. Also included is a session covering habitat use, at the venue, by bats which includes some outdoor work.

Our detailed workshop covers all the relevant aspects of bat law that you may encounter as a bat group member. Concentrating on the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and the Conservation (Natural Habitats & c.) Regulations 2007, the workshop allows discussion on the legal considerations of our work, and the implications for bat law in practice, using a number of case studies. The workshop is considered to be essential for those members who would like to be considered for training for a Bat Roost Visitor Licence.

Clare will take you on a journey of wonderment (and confusion!) on our ID workshop. The workshop focuses on those identifying features that will allow identification of UK bats in the hand. Other workshops concentrate on bats on the wing! The workshop is delivered in the form of a slide presentation, with discussion on the many features which allow a positive identification. It is preceded and followed by tow interactive exercises which will help attendees remember the main identifying features and test their new found skills.

This highly interactive workshop is split into two main parts. The morning session is presented to attendees, concentrating on taxonomy and evolution, flight and reproduction. The afternoon gives members, in the form of small groups, the chance to research an aspect of bat ecology, such as echolocation, feeding, roosting, hibernation, and social behaviour, then prepare and deliver a presentation to the group. Material is provided, however attendees are welcome to bring their own books etc.

A short but enjoyable interactive workshop, which is critical to delivering the aims of the bat group. The workshop is essential for those interested in being considered for a Bat Roost Visitors licence. We look at practical skills for roost visits and arranging the visits along with personal communication skills. We discussion concerns and objections that we are likely to encounter and look at how to overcome them. We consider the difference in real and perceived problems and how we talk to roost owners. The workshop is also highly useful to those wanting to carry out bat talks and walks or attending country shows, in fact any member who is likely to deal with public.

This workshop is usually incorporated into the Bats and Public Relations workshop as it focuses on roost visits and interactions with the public at bat group events. We address Risk Assessments and Personal Protective Equipment.

This workshop is designed for those volunteers wanting to care for injured and grounded bats. The group takes in around 200 bats per year so we are very keen to encourage members to become bat carers. Due to the nature of the role this workshop is delivered by our Bat Welfare Officers. They will present to you the South Lancashire Bat Group protocols for dealing with injured bats, and the guidelines for injured bat care. The role requires certain attributes and considerations so suitability will be assessed prior to the workshop. Caring for bats is a wonderful opportunity to really get used to handling and understanding bats as well as the joy of rescuing and rehabilitating, and of course releasing them back to the wild. It also gives the opportunity for some great public relations work.

Using your ears is a fundamental field skill when using a bat detector. The workshop focuses on training attendees how to maximise the quality of bat calls, heard on the detector, and begins the process of helping attendees interpret the calls to determine species. The workshop only covers heterodyne detecting, but by doing so sets the grounding and understanding of ultrasonic echolocation which can then be taken forward to develop skills to allow computer analysis of bat calls. The workshop includes an integral evening survey at a local bat hotspot to allow the use of our new found skills.

A new workshop for the group which will focus on the arranging, planning and delivery of bat surveys, together with appropriate recording techniques. The workshop is designed to cover survey techniques that the bat group uses to understand how bats are using our area.

Likely to be arranged as a joint workshop with Bat Surveys as there is much overlap. The aim of the workshop is to train volunteers how to carry out bat walks on behalf of South Lancashire Bat Group. The expectation is that attendees will use their new skills to organise and deliver bat walks for the group. Members are advised to attend the Bats and Public Relations workshop and Health & Safety.

This workshop is another new addition to the programme and is designed to get roost visitors together to cover important changes to the legal aspects of bat conservation and the application of such changes, as well as covering process changes such as new roost report forms and processes. It also provides the opportunity for roost visitors to get together to discuss cases they have had ad find new or alternative solutions for problems encountered.

Should members want to have a workshop on any other aspect of bat conservation work, we are more than keen to explore the possibilities of arranging one. We would consider occasional tailor made courses and workshops where required.

You can contact us on the Batline on 0161 764 8850 (please leave a message) or e-mail us

Last Updated 03/07/06

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