Events

Greenmount Village Party, Greenmount   Date: 4th May 2026 Time: 12-4pm  Venue: The Village Green/Greenmount Village Old School, Brandlesholme Road, Greenmount Bury BL8 4DS. SD77781433   Description: visit our stall at this family friendly event to learn about bats and buy some batty gifts.   Contact: Sarah Whiteley enquiry@slbg.org.uk  
Plant MCR, Angel Meadows 7th May 2026 7:45 pm – 21:45 pmVenue: Manchester, M4 4BB.   A wonderful evening talk on an introduction to our Native Bats at the Altogether Otherwise studio, followed by a walk- through Angel Meadows to seek out our resident bats. A ticketed event, please book via the Plant MCR website.   Contact at John Craig enquiry@slbg.org.uk or 0161 7648850 for further details.
Bat Law Workshop 10th May 2026 9.30 am – 12.30 pm  Venue :  Village Hotel Bury is Waterfold Business Park, Rochdale Road, Bury, BL9 7BQ   After a long gap this workshop returns to cover the legal side of bat conservation covering all the legislation with case studies and examples galore to bring it to life. If previous workshops are anything to go by this will be a lively affair and nowhere near as dry as the title suggests!   Booking is essential Contact: Steve Parker at enquiry@slbg.org.uk or 0161 7648850.
Bat ID Workshop 10th May 2026 1.30 pm – 4.30 pmVenue :  Village Hotel Bury is Waterfold Business Park, Rochdale Road, Bury, BL9 7BQ   Want to be able to identify bats in the hand or in the roost (i.e. not using detectors)? Then this one is for you. An interactive workshop covering all the features you need to know to ID bats in situ.   Booking is essential Contact: Steve Parker at enquiry@slbg.org.uk or 0161 7648850.
Bat Walk 14th May, 2026 8.45 pm -10.15 pm ish  Venue : Parish Hall Car Park, Cliff Road, Wilmslow, SK9 4AA (SJ847816)

Batty About Bats Join South Lancashire Bat Group and Bollin Valley Partnership Ranger Naomi on a majestic bat walk as the sun starts to fade and dusk draws in.   This is the perfect opportunity to learn more about bats in their natural environment. You will learn the importance of bats and you may even get to see and hear them.  Learn how to identify different species of bat using bat detectors.   Booking and payment in advance is essential. Adults £5, children 16 or under go free. Please bring a torch.  Linkfor tickets to be provided soon   Contact: Booking essential Batty About Bats Tickets, Thursday 14 May  •  20:45 – 22:30 | Eventbrite
Bat Walk Thursday 20th May 2026 20:00 pm – 22:00 pmVenue: Fog Lane Park   Bat talk and walk to discover the fascinating world of bats in a local neighbourhood park. Learn about bats,  hopefully get to see and hear them.   Booking essential via email friendsfoglanepark@gmail.com   Contact at John Craig enquiry@slbg.org.uk or 0161 7648850 for further details.
Bat Detector Workshop 23rd May 2026 5.00 pm – 11.00 pm ishVenue: St Francis House, 37 Throstle Grove, Brandlesholme, Bury BL8 1EB   If you have a bat detector but don’t have loads of experience in using it, this course is for you. The workshop will equip you for all the groups’ surveys and the National Bat Monitoring Programme.   Booking is essential – Steve Parker at enquiry@slbg.org.uk or 0161 7648850
Bat Walk 26th May, 2026 8.45 pm -10.15 pm ish  Venue : Prestwich Clough & St Marys Flower Park Batty About Bats Join South Lancashire Bat Group and Prestwich Environmental Forum on a bat walk as dusk draws in.   This is the perfect opportunity to learn more about bats in their natural environment. You will learn the importance of bats and you may even get to see and hear them.  Learn how to identify different species of bat using bat detectors.   Booking and payment in advance is essential. Adults £5, children 16 or under go free. Please bring a torch. 

Contact: Booking essential via Prestwich Environmental Forum – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sunset-guided-bat-walk-rescheduled-tickets-1990074041028?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&_gl=1*1s06oqc*_up*MQ..*_ga*ODgyODg4NjQwLjE3Nzk0MDQzMjE.*_ga_TQVES5V6SH*czE3Nzk0MDQzMjAkbzEkZzAkdDE3Nzk0MDQzMjAkajYwJGwwJGgw
Monthly Trustee Meeting 3rd June 2026 8.00 pm  Venue: Venue: Online – Zoom Meeting   Trustees Only   Contact: Brian Robinson at enquiry@slbg.org.uk or 0161 7648850.
Lesser Horseshoe NBMP Counts 4th June 2026 8pm till lateVenue: Various in North Wales – details will be emailed nearer the time.   Booking essential – reply to the email
Brown Long-Eared & Soprano Pipistrelle NBMP Counts 5th June 2026 9.00 pm (Backup will be 8th June)Venue: Tatton Park, details will be emailed nearer the time.   Booking essential – reply to the email Contact: Steve Parker enquiry@slbg.org.uk or 0161 7648850
Brown Long-Eared & Soprano Pipistrelle NBMP Counts 16th June 2026 9.00 pm (backup 22nd June)Venue: Tatton Park, details will be emailed nearer the time.   Booking essential – reply to the email Contact: Steve Parker enquiry@slbg.org.uk or 0161 7648850
Lesser Horseshoe NBMP Counts 18th June 2026 8pm – lateVenue: Various in North Wales – details will be emailed nearer the time.   Booking essential – reply to the email
Lesser Horseshoe NBMP Counts – Back-up date 25th June 2026 8pm – lateVenue: Various in North Wales – details will be emailed nearer the time.   Booking essential – reply to the email
Field Survey – NBMP 3rd July 2026 9.30 pm (Backup 4th July)Venue: Tatton Park, details will be emailed nearer the time.   Booking essential – reply to the email Contact: Steve Parker enquiry@slbg.org.uk or 0161 7648850
Field Survey – NBMP 18th July 2026 9.10 pm (Backup 19th July)Venue: Tatton Park, details will be emailed nearer the time.   Booking essential – reply to the email Contact: Steve Parker enquiry@slbg.org.uk or 0161 7648850
Millpond Surveys start, every night for about a week! 31st July 2026 8.00 pmVenue: Watch your emails for details of the meeting point for the start of the 2026 survey   Contact: Steve Parker, Clare Sefton, Paul Robinson enquiry@slbg.org.uk or 0161 7648850
Waterway Survey – NBMP 13th August 2026 9.15 pmVenue: Ramsbottom, Bury, details will be emailed nearer the time.   Booking essential – reply to the email Contact: Steve Parker enquiry@slbg.org.uk or 0161 7648850
Waterway Survey – NBMP 21st August 2026 9.00 pmVenue: Ramsbottom, Bury, details will be emailed nearer the time.   Booking essential – reply to the email Contact: Steve Parker enquiry@slbg.org.uk or 0161 7648850
Monthly Trustee Meeting 2nd  September 2026 8.00 pm Venue: Venue: Online – Zoom Meeting   Trustees Only   Contact: Brian Robinson at enquiry@slbg.org.uk or 0161 7648850
National BCT Bat Conference 11th -13th September, 2026 tbc.Venue: Hybrid event at Warwick University or online at Your House, virtually. Your choice. But its better in person.  The National BCT Bat Conference returns. Loads of talks/presentations, posters and workshops, with a Bat Walk on the Friday night www.bats.org.uk for further details
Plant MCR, Angel Meadows 24th September 2026 18:30 pm – 20:30 pmVenue: Manchester, M4 4BB.   A wonderful evening talk on an introduction to our Native Bats at the Altogether Otherwise studio, followed by a walk- through Angel Meadows to seek out our resident bats. A ticketed event, please book via the Plant MCR website.   Contact at John Craig enquiry@slbg.org.uk or 0161 7648850 for further details.
Bat Box Check, Tatton Park September 2026 tbc  12.00 pmVenue: Tatton Park. Meeting place tbc   Bat box checks at the wonderful Tatton Park   Booking Essential   Contact: Steve Parker at enquiry@slbg.org.uk or 0161 7648850
Cheese Night 11, Tatton Park September, 2026 tbc 6.00 pm Venue: Tatton Park. Meeting place tbc   The annual event to mark the end of survey season.   Booking Essential. Contact: Steve Parker at enquiry@slbg.org.uk or 0161 7648850
Monthly Trustee  Meeting 7th  October 2026 8.00 pmVenue: Venue: Online – Zoom Meeting   Trustees Only   Contact: Brian Robinson at enquiry@slbg.org.uk or 0161 7648850
Bat Box Check, Haigh Country Park / Duxbury Woods October 2026 tbc 9.30 amVenue: Haigh CP Hall Lane Wigan Yarrow Bridge Pub Bolton Rd (A6)   Meet at Haigh at 9.30 am, after checking these boxes we’ll move onto Duxbury, finishing with a drink in the pub to warm us up!   Booking Essential   Contact: Steve Parker at enquiry@slbg.org.uk or 0161 7648850
Monthly Trustee Meeting 2nd December 2026 8.00 pm  Venue: Venue: Online – Zoom Meeting   Trustees Only   Contact: Brian Robinson at enquiry@slbg.org.uk or 0161 7648850
Christmas Do December 2026 tbc 7.15 pm till lateVenue: Details sent to bat group members – Restaurant in central Manchester
Hibernation Survey TBC – January 2027 9.30 am till sunsetVenue: Around South Lancashire – details will be sent to invited parties.
Wales Hibernation Survey January 2027 tbc 9.30 am till sunsetVenue: Wales – details will be sent to invited parties.
Bat Group AGM & Bat Talk Wednesday 3rd February 2027 7.30 pmVenue: TBC.       Contact: Brian Robinson at enquiry@slbg.org.uk or 0161 7648850
Hibernation Survey TBC – February 2027 9.30 am till sunsetVenue: Around South Lancashire – details will be sent to invited parties.
Wales Hibernation Survey February 2027 tbc 9.30 am till sunsetVenue: Wales – details will be sent to invited parties.

South Lancashire Bat Group is covered under a Public Liability Insurance policy, but no Personal Liability is covered. Anyone taking part in bat group events, including bat box checks, bat walks and hibernation site checks, does so at their own risk, and must be member of the group. South Lancashire Bat Group recommends the wearing of gloves and an up to date rabies vaccination when regularly handling bats (speak to a Trustee for more guidance on when this is needed), which should be carried out in accordance with the current guidance from the Bat Conservation Trust.

Throughout the winter, various Hibernation surveys will be arranged, however these are by invite only.

Training workshops are available to members of the South Lancashire Bat Group as they are intended for group members to expand their knowledge and provide better understanding of bats and increase skills to benefit bat conservation through the work of the group. The workshops are not suitable for those specifically seeking licence training for consultancy, but will be useful for all.

Anyone wanting to attend any SLBG event in order to obtain experience and then subsequent signing of any log-book, must notify the event leader only, prior to the event(s), as SLBG has a policy in place for this.

Trapping surveys will be arranged for the group, by email to all members. At the time of writing these surveys include the National Nathusius Pipistrelle Project and the Small Myotis Project. Places can be requested but may be limited due to the nature of the survey type. Where place cancellations cannot be filled, this may lead to reduced invites to future surveys.

For SLBG members who want to book events, please note we now have a policy for this in line with our insurance and safeguarding arrangements. The policy can be seen in both the Members page, and Governance pages of the website.

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