News
Rare bat discovered by our survey volunteers
A very rare grey long-eared bat was discovered in a church in Devon to the excitement of volunteers that took part in our Bats in Churches Study last summer. A DNA analysis of droppings collected by one of our volunteers confirmed the presence of grey long-eared bats in the church they surveyed. These bats are…
Re-opening guidance for churches post-lockdown
There are a lot of new rules and regulations on keeping your church building safe while re-opening it during the coronavirus pandemic. The Bats in Churches project is not an authority on this but would like to offer some helpful tips. For more information, please refer to the changing government guidance and the Church of…
Bats in the Belfry
By Claire Boothby, Training and Survey Officer at the Bats in Churches Project. Six hundred soprano pipistrelle bats swoop and swirl around a grand medieval church on a summer’s evening before slipping through a small gap above a heavy gothic door and finding their way out into the countryside. It is a sight to behold!…
Volunteers nominated for Natural England award
Expert Volunteer Bat Roost Visitors, Roger & Sylvia Jiggins, are in for a chance to win a Green Award for Terrific Acheivers from Natural England! County Bat groups can be tremendous sources of support and expertise for church communities living alongside bats. Essex Bat Group is a shining example of a dynamic and proactive Bat…
Bats in Churches project takes off!
The Bats in Churches project is now officially underway with the new team on board and committed to seeing the project through over the next five years. The end of last year saw solutions successfully developed for the three pilot churches, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund confirm a grant of £3.8 million, securing the…