**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 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 secretary@ cardiffbats.org.uk (remove spaces).
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.
In Britain all bat species and their roosts are legally protected, by both domestic and international legislation. Do you have a question about Bats, Planning and the Law? Do you want to know what to do if you suspect bats or their roosts are under threat? Please follow the links below to the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) website:
Planning and the Law
Reporting Bat Crimes
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.
Please contact Alex Pollard if you would like further details about any events. secretary@ cardiffbats.org.uk (remove spaces)
All walks will last around 2hrs. Events free (unless stated). If you are interested in attending the events or require any further information, please email Alex Pollard at secretary@ cardiffbats.org.uk (remove spaces).
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. 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 come along to the Cardiff Bat Group 2012 AGM on Friday 20th April at 7pm at the RSPB offices in Cardiff (RSPB, Sutherland House, Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff, CF11 9AB).
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:
Merthyr Tydfil to Quakers Yard - 5th July 2012
Quakers Yard to Trefforest - 12th July 2012
Trefforest to Radyr - 19th July 2012
Radyr to Cardiff Bay - 26th July 2012
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 (loudspeaker) 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. 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). For more information please contact Richard Dodd (doddrf@yahoo.co.uk) or Alex Pollard (secretary@cardiffbats.org.uk).
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.