BatChat

84 Episodes

Reverse

Series 8 is coming on November 4th

2026-10-2801:12

The new BatChat series brings you the first documented Leisler’s bat maternity roost in Wales, an in-depth interview with Dr Mark Avery who despite being a renowned birder did his PhD on pipistrelle bats as well as a new regenerative farming estate where bats are being considered one of the important species groups in determining how the project is progressing. Alongside all of that we'll be travelling across the UK to bring you field trips to hibernation surveys, exciting new developments in...

The Bedfordshire Bat-by-Boat Survey

2026-03-1129:20

In this final episode of Series 7 of BatChat, we go out on a unique paddling journey along the River Great Ouse with the Bedfordshire Bat Group and the Viking Kayak Club. Bob Cornes from the bat group explains how the survey came about and as we embrace the peacefulness of the river we discuss bat behaviours in their environments. The episode showcases community-driven conservation efforts, emphasising the significance of grassroots initiatives in bat conservation. As well as recording ...

Margam Castle & Eco-Poetry

2026-02-2526:56

S7E76 In this episode of BatChat, we explore bat conservation with experts Megan Price and Beth from Margam Park in South Wales. They share insights on the park's rich biodiversity, highlighting the fourteen bat species present and the importance of managing roosts while balancing conservation efforts with public access. Watch a short video of the bats at Margam Park A short article on the bats of Margam In the second half of the episode Dr. Briony Hughes from Royal Holloway University ...

From Aberdeen to Madagascar with Paul Racey

2026-02-1145:00

In this episode, we chat with Emeritus Professor Paul Racey, one of the best-known figures in bat ecology and conservation. Paul talks about how his interest in bats began when he was at school, watching dusk fall and becoming curious about the animals that emerge after dark. He shares how early teachers, university life, and time in the field helped shape what became a lifelong career. We look back over Paul’s many years of work, including his role in helping to establish the Bat Conservatio...

From Discovery to Recovery; Three Decades of Bat Science at Stackpole

2026-01-2849:09

In this episode of BatChat, we explore the significant roost of greater horseshoe bats on the National Trust's Stackpole estate in Pembrokeshire, Wales. With insights from conservationists Maggie Andrews and Paul Culyer, we discuss the site’s impressive growth from 200 bats in 1994 to over a thousand today. Paul recounts the early discovery of the maternity roost, while Maggie shares her late husband's innovative work with bat detectors that has contributed to over three decades of data. We d...

#box-pro-ellipsis-179356989630576{-webkit-line-clamp:2;}BatChat