Welcome to the events page
Up Coming Surveys
NBMP Roost Count – Gibside, National Trust
Gibside has a soprano pipistrelle maternity roost in the stables. We count it twice in June for the Bat Conservation Trust’s National Bat Monitoring Programme. This year the dates are Friday 5th June meeting for 20:45 and Thursday 25th June, meeting 21:00.
We are meet in the main car park for Gibside, NZ169581 ///bets.shadow.sweep, accessed at ///casino.help.herbs. There is a twenty minute walk in but these are good nights, the bats are incredible.
No need to book for this one, just turn up, the counts will go ahead in light rain but if it is really heavy, we wont be counting.
NBMP Roost Count – Housesteads Farm
This roost is counted as part of the NBMP surveys, this year the dates are Tuesday 16th June and Monday 29th June, meeting for 21:15 on both nights. These will be late nights.
We are meet in the car park at Housesteads, NY788686 ///archives.zinc.sporting, accessed at NY78596803 ///logo.miracles.flippers. Please close all the gates behind you.
Numbers are limited, please email Tina on malinka1999@btinternet.com to book a place
Wallington Hall – National Trust
We are meeting on Thursday 2nd July at 21:00, at Wallington Hall, in the car park, NZ027843 ///wiggly.debater.defenders. We will be monitoring the maternity roosts in the courtyard, we will have cameras to help.
The hall and estate is a great place to visit for all types of wildlife, but at night, when most of the humans have gone home, this is when the bats come out to play!
Numbers are limited, please email Tina on malinka1999@btinternet.com to book a place.
What else have we been up to recently?We’re super excited that some our bat group members supported the Natural History Society of Northumbria with their recent ‘Big Bat Biolblitz’ event where volunteers took part if a series of organised bat walks across multiple sites in Newcastle.We’re also continuing with Bat Box Checks at Gosforth Nature Reserve! New dates for Autumn will be released at the end of summer🦇 |
Winter Hibernation Adit Surveys - New dates to be added 2026/27
Tina plans the National Bat Monitoring Programme (NBMP) hibernation surveys of the adits at Nenthead (just over the border in Cumbria) – but these happen in the winter. Keep an eye out next year for new dates.
Tina has been leading surveys of the same sites since 2014 and so is really starting to build up a picture of how the bats are using the sites.
For the surveys, you will need wellies, old warm clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty, torches with lots of spare batteries and maybe also a change of boots/socks, the adits are all wet. Bring lunch, snacks and a flask, it will be cold!
If you have a caving helmet/hard hat that you are able to bring along that would be great, I have a few to lend out if not.
If you are interested in/able to come along please email me on malinka1999@btinternet.com. As ever, places are on a first come first served basis.
The surveys will require entering known hibernacula, so to comply with IUCN and BCT guidelines :
All surveyors should have had a lateral flow test with a negative result within 48 hours before the survey (this is also essential for mitigating risks to bats). If a member of the survey team has COVID-type symptoms then they should not participate until they have had a PCR test with a negative result.
FFP2 unvented masks or better are a requirement when within hibernacula.
Tina has masks if you need one.
One last thing, for insurance purposes you need to be a member of Northumberland Bat Group to join these surveys, no worries if you are not, it is easy and free to join. Just click on this link and subscribe to our mailing list – it’s that easy to join.
Gibside Bat Surveys - Need to know...
Come and join Northumberland Bat Group at this amazing National Trust managed location. The grounds and buildings are a haven for bats. No experience required, but a bonus if you have surveyed before. Tina, Tim or another experienced bat surveyor will be on hand to explain what you have to do and where you have to stand for each survey.
The National Trust at Gibside will supply bat detectors to use for these surveys, but if you have your own torch please bring it along. Remember to wear warm clothes and insect repellent. Surveys start about 30 minutes before sunset and will continue for 1 – 2 hours after sun set. Exact timings will depend on the time of year, survey type and weather.
Meeting times are in the information above, and the surveys carry on until it gets dark, which can be late at the end of May and in June.
There is no need to let Tina know that you are coming along as the surveys will take place regardless of the number of people that turn up. Also worth noting, if it is pouring with rain, then that night’s survey will be cancelled.
NBMP Waterway survey – Final surveys
Bat Walks - New dates to be added for 2026
What is a bat walk?
Bat walks are open to anyone that wishes to attend. Some of the walks are suitable for all types of mobility, others may be rough underfoot so less suitable for wheels etc, so please ask if you have an accessibility question.
Walks start at sun set, just to give us time to meet up at the given location. The walk leader will then hand out some bat detectors and explain how to use them, and which noises relate to which bat calls (or jangling keys, or squeaky wheel bearings!).
The walks are generally around 3 – 5km long no more and last 1 – 1.5 hours. You will need to bring warm clothes and sturdy foot wear. Also if you have it, bring a torch too.
Walks are weather dependent, so if a walk is cancelled due to heavy rain, a note will be posted on here, and on the group Facebook site. Also unlike during the covid years, no booking is required, just turn up! The walk leader will be wearing bat dee-lee-boppers, and easy to recognise (usually).
Bat Evidence Surveys - Hopefully these surveys will continue in 2026
Northumberland Bat Group are leading four bat surveys of churches as part of the Bat Conservation Trust’s Bat Evidence in Churches surveys.
These are dusk surveys to see if we can see any bats emerging from the churches, and identify any bats present. We will meet in daylight but the surveys will continue until its dark, so wear sturdy foot wear and warm clothes. We will have some bat detectors to use but please bring a torch if you have one. No need to sign up, just turn up if you want to take part.