Welcome to the events page
Winter Talks 2026
Please see the poster below for the dates and themes for this year’s series of winter talks. Everyone is welcome to attend, no need to sign up and talks are free of charge.
All of the talks will start at 7pm and will take place at Tyne Riverside Country Park, for which we have after hours access to the café building to host the talks. There is lots of free parking, and the venue is right next to the train station, for public transport. The location can be found here.
Winter Hibernation Adit Surveys 2026
Tina is planning the National Bat Monitoring Programme (NBMP) hibernation surveys of the adits at Nenthead (just over the border in Cumbria) on the following dates:
- Sat 31st January
- Sunday 22nd February
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 - New dates to be added for 2026
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 below, and the surveys carry on until it gets dark, which can be late at the end of May and in June. The meeting location is: Gisbide, in the main car park, at NZ169581, entrance at ///groom.invest.pizza
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.