Devon Bat Group is one of a large number of bat groups across the whole of the UK. The group was formed in 1984 by a group of people concerned about the decline of British bats, and has approximately 180 members all across the county. Devon is special in that it supports almost all of the seventeen breeding bat species in Britain, and our members work to maintain this status, protecting bats and striving to increase our knowledge about bats.

30th anniversary of Devon Bat Group in 2014. (Photo credit: Sarah Butcher)

The group always welcomes new members, people who are interested in learning more about bats and want to join in group activities. These include visiting roost owners, organising bat box schemes and surveys, giving educational talks, arranging bat walks and caring for sick and injured bats. Licensed members carry out Bat Roost Visitor work for Natural England.

Social activities and workshop days are organised throughout the year: we meet every three months at the village hall in Whiddon Down to discuss local, individual and national bat work, but we also have local sections in Exeter, Plymouth and North Devon. This enables us to offer a more varied programme of events and visits that are open to all DBG members.

Further information or advice:

We get dozens of similar enquiries and emails every week, so we have put together a selection of the most frequently asked questions here. Please have a look through them before getting in touch. If you can’t find the information you need, please feel free to contact us either by phone or email, but remember that as we’re all volunteers, it may take a few days to get a reply.

Sylvia Bevis (helpline volunteer) telephone 01803 214665

General enquiries: info@devonbatgroup.org

(please remember we can’t advise on planning issues….)

BCT bat helpline 0345 1300 228

Find us on Facebook: search for Devon Bat Group or our local sections, Plymouth City Bats, Devon Bat Group: Exeter Section, Devon Bat Group: North Devon Section or Devon Bat Group – Mid & West Devon Section.

Devon Bat Group is a Bat Conservation Trust partner group. Click on the logo to visit the BCT website.