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Welcome to the Talking Bat podcast series from BatAbility Courses & Tuition. Every month we interview someone important, influential, inspirational or just darn right bat-tastic from the world of bats or from the wider world of ecology/natural history/conservation. These interviews are carried out in a relaxed, conversational style, as we dive deeper into the background of our amazing guests.
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To find out more about BatAbility visit:
www.batability.co.uk
To find out more about BatAbility Club visit:
www.batability.co.uk/batability-club
125 Episodes
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Every month Aileen Hendry (BatAbility Courses & Tuition) is joined by Neil Middleton to deliver a 'light-hearted' monthly update for our BatAbility Club members. We are sharing it here for the benefit of anyone who wishes to find out more about what we are up to.
If you are not a Club member, but would like to know more about how to join up, please go to the following link: batability.co.uk/batability-club/
Ecology Expo 2026 find out more here
Mammal Society Conference 2026 find out more here
Our Man Incognito - Tales from the Urban Bush - new book by Neil Middleton
During this interview, Aileen Hendry interviews Neil Middleton about his newly published book, 'Our Man Incognito - Tales from the Urban Bush'. We discuss the background to the book, a selection of short humerous stories based on everyday life events, as well as numerous associated subjects.
Neil Middleton - Author website here
'Our Man Incognito - Tales from the Urban Bush' find out more here
Frank Rennie is the author of numerous books, including his latest one, 'The Merlin - The Ecology of A Magical Raptor'. During this interview we are delighted to be talking to Frank about his experiences as an author, as well as the backdrop to this latest book. And, of course, as you would expect, there are a number of interesting tangents as our chat evolves.
The Merlin - The Ecology of A Magical Raptor here
The Corncrake - An Ecology of An Enigma here
Among The Layers of The Land here
The Changing Outer Hebrides here
Every month Aileen Hendry (BatAbility Courses & Tuition) is joined by Neil Middleton to deliver a 'light-hearted' monthly update for our BatAbility Club members. We are sharing it here for the benefit of anyone who wishes to find out more about what we are up to.
If you are not a Club member, but would like to know more about how to join up, please go to the following link: batability.co.uk/batability-club/
Our Man Incognito - Tales from the Urban Bush - new book by Neil Middleton
Dr Mateo Ruiz is Head of Conservation at the Barn Owl Trust, after having first completing his post-graduate research on bird communities in coastal wetlands of Mexico. During this session we discuss in depth his experiences & career journey to date, along with exploring some of his other interests.
Barn Owl Trust - find out more here
Every month Aileen Hendry (BatAbility Courses & Tuition) is joined by Neil Middleton to deliver a 'light-hearted' monthly update for our BatAbility Club members. We are sharing it here for the benefit of anyone who wishes to find out more about what we are up to.
If you are not a Club member, but would like to know more about how to join up, please go to the following link: batability.co.uk/batability-club/
Here we are delighted to bring to you an interview with Ben Averis. Ben is highly respected within the ecology sector for his knowledge on botany, & along with his wife, Alison Averis, they have created sought after consultancy services, delivering many specialist botonatical surveys & training. As well as botany, Ben is also an artist, a musician & a poet, all of which we touch upon during this chat. Follow Ben on BlueSky: @averisben.bsky.social
Ben & Alison Averis website
Ben Averis Art website
Botanical Society of Scotland website
An excellent interview with Gary Burns, an experienced & highly respected wildlife guide & natural history photographer based in Dubai (United Arab Emirates). He offers wildlife tours for those transiting through Dubai, or in the area already be that on holiday or more permanently. We have used Gary oursleves during a trip to the area, & were astonished to see what the area had to offer. Find out now for yourself - listen to this podcast.
Dubai Birding, Herping & Mammals website
Dubai Transit Birding, Herping & Mammals facebook
Barn Owl Trust
Every month Aileen Hendry (BatAbility Courses & Tuition) is joined by Neil Middleton to deliver a 'light-hearted' monthly update for our BatAbility Club members. We are sharing it here for the benefit of anyone who wishes to find out more about what we are up to.
If you are not a Club member, but would like to know more about how to join up, please go to the following link: batability.co.uk/batability-club/
Dave Smallshire is hugely respected in the world of dragonflies, a subject about which he has authored many books, & also played a key part in their conservation. As well as all of this, he is a keen birder, photographer & an experienced wildlife guide. During this interview we explore many aspects of his life journey.
Dragonflies Of Britain & Ireland book
Europe's Dragonflies book
British Dragonfly Society
Dr Jonny Hanson is a Research Fellow at Queen's University (Belfast), an award-winning social entrepreneur, & an affiliate of the Snow Leopard Conservancy. His PhD research was centred on Snow leopard conservation. This, amongst other things, has lead to a short film (Snow Leopard Trail) about sharing landscapes with apex predators. The subject matter is of relevance to us here in Britain & Ireland, during a time when re-introduction of lynx is being discussed. The film is touring during late 2025 & 2026, with first showings at Queen's Film Theatre (22nd Oct 2025) & Clones Film Festival (23rd/26th Oct 2025)
Snow Leopard Trail - watch the teaser here
Living With Lynx - find out about the book here
Snow Leopard Conservancy - find out more here
Jonny Hanson website here
Every month Aileen Hendry (BatAbility Courses & Tuition) is joined by Neil Middleton to deliver a 'light-hearted' monthly update for our BatAbility Club members. We are sharing it here for the benefit of anyone who wishes to find out more about what we are up to.
If you are not a Club member, but would like to know more about how to join up, please go to the following link: batability.co.uk/batability-club/
An excellent interview with Simon Tonkin & Niki Williamson, the owners of Inglorious Bustards, based in Andalucia, Spain. During our chat we talk about, setting up their business, bird migration, eco-tourism, the trips they organise & the conservation work they are involved with in The Gambia.
Inglorious Bustards - visit here
Flyway Birding Association - visit here
During the Bat Conservation Trust's National Bat Conference (Dutham, Sept 2025) we had the pleasure of catching up with many old friends, & meeting some new ones. Here we have created a podcast which includes some of the many people we engaged with. Massive thanks to all, including the following podcast participants - in order of appearance, as follows:
Nigel Massen (Pelagic Publishing)
Steve Powell/Daniel Moonen (NHBS Ltd)
Oliver Devereux (Thomas Jacks Ltd)
Andrew Milner/Liat Wicks/Kate Volodarets (Thermal Vision Ecology)
Sarah Deans (Lotek UK Ltd)
Tiffany Jedrecka/Kate Denton (Nature Metrics)
Sam Davis (Reflex Cameras)
Josef Carlson (BioSonic, Sweden)
Andreia Correia da Costa (Bat Conservation Trust)
Carrie-Ann Coxon Illustrations
David Koller (Elekon AG - Switzerland)
Dilly Hoyt (Fox Mountain Glassworks)
Martin Bailey (Wildlife & Countryside Services / Poland Trips)
Paul Howden-Leach (Wildlife Acoustics)
Here we are delighted to be speaking with George Bemment about the recently published 'Bats & Ladders, Stories from the Real World of Bat Conservation'. George has been involved with mammals her whole working life, as a zookeeper for 5 years, before taking a zoology degree & then in 1988 joining a national bat conservation project. Professional & voluntary bat work has dominated her life. A mammalogist at heart, she has also taught as a part-time lecturer in mammalogy (Exeter University), sat on the Council of the Mammal Society, & is a founding member of the Devon Mammal Group
Bats & Ladders - find out more about the book here
The Bat Conservation Trust
Every month Aileen Hendry (BatAbility Courses & Tuition) is joined by Neil Middleton to deliver a 'light-hearted' monthly update for our BatAbility Club members. We are sharing it here for the benefit of anyone who wishes to find out more about what we are up to.
If you are not a Club member, but would like to know more about how to join up, please go to the following link: batability.co.uk/batability-club/
Anne Youngman was the Bat Conservation Trust’s (BCT) first Scottish Bat Officer from 2003 to 2017, & is very well known & respected within the bat community. This is her 4th time on Talking Bat, & on this occasion we focus on her latest challenge, this time to complete the 100 km St Cuthbert’s Way ultra-marathon. A challenge that could take >19 hours to complete. Did she do it? Find out here. Why? It’s all for charity \o/ in order to raise money for The Bat Conservation Trust.
Make your donation here on Anne's Just Giving page.
A 'one off' special just for our podcast audience. Aileen Hendry interviews Neil Middleton about the recent Talking Bat milestones achieved: >100 episodes & >10,000 downloads.
^o^ A massive thanks to all of our amazing guests & all of our fabulous listeners. :-)
If you are not a Club member, but would like to know more about how to join up, please go to the following link: batability.co.uk/batability-club/
Thought provoking, engaging, entertaining & aspirational are all things we can say about our guest, Lucy McRobert. In addition to her role at The Sound Approach, Lucy writes a monthly column for the hugely respected Birdwatch magazine, & has authored two books, so far (more on the way!). Really enjoyed our chat, & getting her perspectives on so many aspects of life, being a birder & being an author.
Blue's Planet (Australia) book
365 Days Wild book
Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust
Every month Aileen Hendry (BatAbility Courses & Tuition) is joined by Neil Middleton to deliver a 'light-hearted' monthly update for our BatAbility Club members. We are sharing it here for the benefit of anyone who wishes to find out more about what we are up to.
If you are not a Club member, but would like to know more about how to join up, please go to the following link: batability.co.uk/batability-club/
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