Bat Groups and The Bat Conservation Trust

October 2011


Bat Groups

The UK is unusual in that it has an extensive network of  independent volunteer Bat Groups throughout the  country. Each one is responsible for work  in its own area (often but not always on a county basis)

The Bat Conservation Trust
from the Bat Conservation Trust websiteBCT logo

“The Bat Conservation Trust is the leading NGO solely devoted to the conservation of bats and the landscapes on which they rely.

“Bats are unique and play a vital role in our environment but during the last century bat populations suffered severe declines. We are working to secure the future of bats in our ever changing world by tackling the threats to bats, from persecution to loss of roosts and changing land use.

“Since 1991 the Bat Conservation Trust has run a diverse range of projects to conserve  bat populations. We are part of one of the most successful conservation movements in the world, supported by a network of members, volunteers, academics and professionals. Bats are now protected by law in Europe, and in the UK some species may already be benefitting from the positive effects of conservation, but we have a long way to go to achieve our vision of a world where bats and people thrive together in harmony.

“As the authoritative voice for bat conservation we work locally, nationally, across Europe and internationally to meet our objectives, these are to:

  • Establish the capacity of the landscape to support viable populations of bats
  • Secure and enhance bat populations to the full capacity of the landscape
  • Win the level of support required to achieve and maintain these bat populations”

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The Bedfordshire Bat GroupBeds bat group logo

BCT partner groupalong with many other bat groups is a partner group to the Bat Conservation Trust.  This means that we work together, but retain our autonomy. Our work covers the old county of Bedfordshire. The Bat Conservation has a list of other bat groups based elsewhere.