WHAT WE DO
The South Yorkshire Bat Group works towards furthering the study and conservation of bats in South Yorkshire. We go about this in lots of different ways, collecting data and passing it on to
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
We love to enthuse others about bats. Members of SYBG lead regular bat walks for Friends of Hyde Park Cemetery, Friends of Cannon Hall and Wharncliffe Heathlands Trust (include hyperlinks), with occasional walks for a wide range of other organisations including RSPB Old Moor. Our members also deliver talks to other local natural history groups as well as to other bat specialists at local and national bat conferences. Written articles from bat group members find their way into publications ranging from village newsletters through to local journals such as The Naturalist and Northern Bats.
WHAT WE DO
The South Yorkshire Bat Group works towards furthering the study and conservation of bats in South Yorkshire. We go about this in lots of different ways, collecting data and passing it on to
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
We love to enthuse others about bats. Members of SYBG lead regular bat walks for Friends of Hyde Park Cemetery, Friends of Cannon Hall and Wharncliffe Heathlands Trust (include hyperlinks), with occasional walks for a wide range of other organisations including RSPB Old Moor. Our members also deliver talks to other local natural history groups as well as to other bat specialists at local and national bat conferences. Written articles from bat group members find their way into publications ranging from village newsletters through to local journals such as The Naturalist and Northern Bats.
NATIONAL BAT MONITORING PROGRAMME SURVEYS
NBMP gathers robust information
Contributing to the National Bat Monitoring Programme (NBMP) is a big part of what we do. Theabouttrendsunbats in tunnels, viaducts,
understanding of how wildlife is coping in our changing world. Every winter we count hibernating
bat populations; helping to inform the kilns and caves centred on three locations in the county. In summer we
count bats out of their breeding roosts as well as carrying out twice yearly bat survey transects in
Graves Park in Sheffield.
NATIONAL BAT MONITORING PROGRAMME SURVEYS
NBMP gathers robust information
Contributing to the National Bat Monitoring Programme (NBMP) is a big part of what we do. Theabouttrendsunbats in tunnels, viaducts,
understanding of how wildlife is coping in our changing world. Every winter we count hibernating
bat populations; helping to inform the kilns and caves centred on three locations in the county. In summer we
count bats out of their breeding roosts as well as carrying out twice yearly bat survey transects in
Graves Park in Sheffield.
SWARMING AND TRAPPING
Over the past few years our flagship project has been the autumn swarming work we’ve been
undertaking. Autumn swarming sites are known to be important for Myotis and Plecotus bats
particularly for social interaction near the end of the bats active season. The work we’ve done within
the bat group has helped to identify two major autumn swarming sites within South Yorkshire, one
of which is likely to be used by many hundreds of Natterer’s bats across a season. More information
can be found here, and here.
SWARMING AND TRAPPING
Over the past few years our flagship project has been the autumn swarming work we’ve been
undertaking. Autumn swarming sites are known to be important for Myotis and Plecotus bats
particularly for social interaction near the end of the bats active season. The work we’ve done within
the bat group has helped to identify two major autumn swarming sites within South Yorkshire, one
of which is likely to be used by many hundreds of Natterer’s bats across a season. More information
can be found here, and here.
RESEARCH PROJECTS
RESEARCH PROJECTS
WHO WE ARE
Here at the South Yorkshire Bat Group, we are committed to advancing the protection and conservation of bats in the south Yorkshire area, and we want you to get involved!
We're batty about all things bats and we want to spread the word about these ecologically important and amazing species.
Our members get together to monitor and survey bats in a variety of ways. This information is then used in research like the Sheffield State of Nature Report.
Become A Member
Get invites to exclusive events
Become part of something special
WHAT WE DO
Events take place throughout the year, from monitoring roosts at dawn to night-time bat walks or just a day out with the family learning about bats and roosts. We cover it all. Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date.
We also offer bat records to businesses at very competitive rates - get more details here.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
We love to enthuse others about bats. Members of SYBG lead regular bat walks for Friends of Hyde Park Cemetery, Friends of Cannon Hall and Wharncliffe Heathlands Trust, with occasional walks for a wide range of other organisations including RSPB Old Moor.
Our members also deliver talks to other local natural history groups as well as to other bat specialists at local and national bat conferences.
Written articles from bat group members find their way into publications ranging from village newsletters through to local journals such as The Naturalist and Northern Bats.
NATIONAL BAT MONITORING PROGRAMME SURVEYS
Contributing to the National Bat Monitoring Programme (NBMP) is a big part of what we do. The NBMP gathers robust information about trends in bat populations; helping to inform the understanding of how wildlife is coping in our changing world.
Every winter we count hibernating bats in tunnels, viaducts, kilns and caves, centred on three locations in the county.
In summer we count bats out of their breeding roosts as well as carrying out twice yearly bat survey transects in Graves Park in Sheffield.
SWARMING AND TRAPPING
Over the past few years, our flagship project has been the autumn swarming work we’ve been undertaking. Autumn swarming sites are known to be important for Myotis and Plecotus bats, particularly for social interaction near the end of the bats active season.
The work we’ve done within the bat group has helped to identify two major autumn swarming sites within South Yorkshire, one of which is likely to be used by many hundreds of Natterer’s bats across a season. More information can be found here, and here. We are currently engaged in a project focused on mapping the distribution of Whiskered bats and Brandt's bats in West Sheffield, by surveying woodlands that we expect to support one or both of these cryptic species. More information can be found here.
BAT BOX CHECKS
Our ever-popular bat box checks give our group members a rare opportunity to get up close with South Yorkshire’s bats.
We have five bat box schemes checked by the group with our oldest being more than ten years old. The older the scheme, the more bat interest there seems to be.
We’ve now recorded a healthy population of noctules, and a breeding population of Natterer’s bats using the South Yorkshire Bat Group bat boxes.
