**Please note, this is a hosted webpage. Please use contact details given below for enquiries regarding bats (i.e. do not contact SEWBReC). Cardiff Bat Group do not carry out survey work, please use the IEEM directory if you require a professional survey carried out.**

Cardiff Bat Group

Cardiff Bat Group welcomes anyone! We run a fun programme of events & training and take part in many bat conservation surveys. Follow the link to the Cardiff Bat Group Facebook page to see the latest event and survey information and let us know if you would like to get involved. We offer opportunities for beginners and the more experienced.

If you would like to join us, please complete & return the membership form. For all other enquiries, please contact:

Cardiff Bat Group covers the unitary authority of Cardiff and is affiliated to the Bat Conservation Trust, the national body representing Bat Conservation in the UK. Our Chair, James Byrne, holds a bat licence and is the Group's official trainer.

Aims of the Group

• Further the knowledge of bat distribution and activity in the Group's area.
• Promote the conservation of bats and their habitat.
• Provide a forum for discussion on bat conservation issues.
• Improve public perception of bats.
• Consider sustainable options in all its activities.

Please note, Cardiff Bat Group does NOT carry out survey work for commercial developments. If you require professional survey work, please refer to the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (IEEM) website, which contains a directory of ecological consultants: http://www.ieem.net/ieemdirectory.asp.

Committee for 2011

Elected positions

• President - Richard Crompton
• Chair - James Byrne
• Treasurer - Jonathon Lee
• Secretary - Catalena Angele
• Events Officer - Ros Killick
• Committee Officer - Becky East

Non Elected positions

• Records Officer - Laura Palmer
• Bat Box Coordinator - Katie Partington
• Marginalised Groups Officer - Kevin Chubb

Biological Recording

If you have spotted any bats in South East Wales, please submit your records to SEWBReC. You can do this using the SEWBReC on-line recording form. You do not have to be able to identify the bat species you have recorded: all bats found in the UK are European Protected Species.

Events Programme 2011

Many of our events are weather dependant so always check our up-to-date events listing on our Facebook page on the day of the event. You have to be a member of facebook to view the events page but if you join you can register your interest in a particular event. Facebook will then remind you that the event is coming and provide us with an automated list of names for the event. If you are unable to access facebook, contact the relevant contact listed for the event or our secretary Catalena.Angele@museumwales.ac.uk. Please note that we will e-mail the group with any general changes to events but with some of the weather dependant surveys this is not always possible.

Please see the list of 2011 events below, or download the 2011 programme (Word).

Bikes and Bats Project

Bats and bikes is an exciting new pilot study for monitoring bats, developed in partnership with the Cardiff Bat Group, Valleys Bat Group and Sustrans, and funded by the National Lottery. The project aims to survey bats on the National Cycle Network, of which there are approximately 1,200 miles across Wales alone. Of course, we shall be focusing at a local level and surveying the Taff trail sections between Merthyr Tydfil and Cardiff Bay. This will be broken into sections and rides will be on the following dates:

19th July - Cardiff Bay to Radyr

16th August - Radyr to Trefforest

22nd September - Quakers Yard to Trefforest (further details below)

All sections will start and end at or near a railway station so people can get to them easily along the Cardiff to Merthyr Tydfil line (the valley lines trains are able to take a limited number of bikes). We shall be using an Anabat detector and a GPS to record what bats we encounter and where, and also other bat detectors on loudspeaker (but not recording) so members of the group can hear the bats as we cycle along. We shall be wearing hi-vis jackets (provided) and you will need to bring good quality bike lights to see the road ahead. The data will then be analysed and a 'bat map' created showing the results and passed on to SEWBReC.

Everyone is welcome to get involved including not only bat and cycle groups, but anyone with access to a bike (sorry, no bikes will be bought with the award monies).  Each ride will be around 8 miles, or 16 miles if you join us for the full circular route.

The lead riders will have bright lights to help light the way, but all attendees MUST bring bike lights and be confident to cycle in the dark  - we'll be starting the survey 30 minutes after sun down and the trail will be dark (though a good quality tarmac surface).

Further details for the final stages of the Bats & Bikes Survey - Quakers Yard to Trefforest (22nd September)

Early birds meet at Trefforest train station from 5.45pm ready to start cycling to the start point at 6.00pm (Google Map), or

Late arrivals meet at Quakers Yard from 7.00pm ready to start the survey promptly at 7.45pm (Google Map).

Estimated time of arrival back at Trefforest is 8.45pm, so plenty of time for you to catch the train back to Cardiff or elsewhere. Please bring lights for your bike. A hi-vis vest will be supplied if you do not have one. If raining, this event may be cancelled, so please check the @valleysbatgroup Twitter account or Cardiff Bat Group Facebook account, or give the event organiser, Richard Dodd (07771 723576) a call. Please confirm your attendance with Richard Dodd before the event.

Other Surveys

Volunteers needed! All surveys are weather dependant, so please let us know if you intend coming so we can get in touch with you if we need to cancel. If anyone would like to carry out a different National Bat Monitoring Programme survey, please contact Danielle Cowell and she will organise it with the Bat Conservation Trust.

Mid June, end of July & mid September - Cardiff Urban Bat Survey (CUBS): Do you know if there are Bats around where you live? Would you like help us to find out? Building on the success of last years survey help us obtain even more information on bat activity in your area. Volunteers will receive training and 'adopt' a 1km square of the Cardiff area and 'survey' bat activity within it. Contact: Catalena Angele