Bat Walks
Thank you to The National Heritage Lottery Fund for supporting this project and allowing these events to proceed.
What is a bat walk?
A bat walk is an opportunity for members of the public to experience bats in their natural habitat and learn more about these fascinating animals. They are often led by a local bat group or someone with experience and knowledge of bat ecology, helping participants understand the species they encounter and the important role bats play in our ecosystems.
These events are suitable for people of all ages and can help build a lasting connection with nature. Spending time outdoors and experiencing wildlife first-hand can be a memorable and rewarding experience, creating positive associations with the natural world and potentially inspiring a lifelong interest in wildlife and conservation.
Spending time in green spaces and connecting with nature can also have wider benefits for wellbeing and mental health. Being outdoors, taking time away from everyday routines, and experiencing wildlife in a natural setting can provide opportunities to relax, reduce stress and feel more connected to the environment and local community.
Bat walks can also be held regularly in the same locations over an extended period. This allows participants to become familiar with the bats in their local area while also providing opportunities to monitor changes in bat activity over time. When carried out consistently, these walks can combine public engagement and enjoyment with valuable wildlife data collection.
What happens on a bat walk?
The main ways to experience bats during a bat walk are through listening and observing. These simple methods allow participants to discover bats in their natural environment without disturbing them.
As the group follows a designated route, participants can look out for bats flying overhead or around vegetation. Bat detectors allow the ultrasonic, echolocation calls to be lowered to range we can hear and let us explore behaviours that would be hidden from us. Echolocation is used to navigate in the dark, as well as to detect and catch prey. These calls work by the bat producing of high-frequency sounds and listening for the echoes that bounce back from objects around them. By then interpreting these echoes, they can build a picture of their surroundings and locate insects, without needing to rely on vision during dim or complete darkness.
Apart from echolocation, bats make a wide variety of call types and across many frequencies. Some of these calls can even be within the range of human hearing!
During the walk, detectors can be shared throughout the group, giving everyone the opportunity to use one and experience the sounds that bats make for themselves.
Throughout the walk, participants are encouraged to be curious, ask questions and take time to observe the natural world around them. Along the way, they can learn more about bat ecology, including the habitats bats use, what they eat, how they behave and why they are important to our ecosystems.
What you can expect to see on a walk
The main aim of a bat walk is, of course, to see some bats! However, it is important to remember that wildlife is unpredictable, and there is no guarantee that you will see or hear a bat on every walk. This is part of the excitement of exploring nature, sometimes you get lucky, and sometimes the bats have other plans!
When bats are active, you may see them flying overhead or around trees and vegetation as they search for insects. If the walk takes place near a pond, river or other body of water, you may also spot bats hunting over the surface of the water or briefly dipping down to drink while in flight.
Within certain sites, you may also come across bat boxes, which are installed to provide additional roosting opportunities for bats. These can be a great chance to learn more about the different places bats use for shelter and can be a time to discuss why suitable roosting habitat is important.
As bat walks take place around dusk, you may also have the opportunity to see or hear other wildlife becoming active as the light fades. Owls, moths, foxes and other nocturnal or crepuscular species may all make an appearance. Another reminder that you never quite know what you might encounter when exploring nature!
Why are bat walks useful?
Bat walks are a great way to educate people about bats, increase public awareness and encourage a greater appreciation of the natural world. By taking part, participants can experience wildlife first-hand, develop a stronger connection with nature and learn more about the important role bats play in our ecosystems.
Bat walks also provide an opportunity to address common fears and misconceptions about bats. Discussing and debunking myths can help people feel more comfortable around bats and replace uncertainty with curiosity and understanding.
Participants can then share accurate information with friends, family and their wider communities, helping to build support for bat conservation and environmental education.
The presence, absence and activity of bats can also provide valuable information about the health of the local environment. Because bats rely on suitable habitats and healthy insect populations, changes in bat activity can help indicate changes within the wider ecosystem.
When bat walks are carried out regularly and consistently, they can also contribute valuable observations for monitoring local bat populations. This information can support scientific research and conservation efforts, helping us to better understand how bat populations are changing and what can be done to protect them and the habitats they depend on.
Join us:
Interested in joining us for a bat walk? You can find our upcoming walks below. Please keep in mind these are free but ticketed events, so make sure to book in advance.
Bristol Water
Thurshday 17th September 2026:
https://events.humanitix.com/bat-walk-17-sept-2026
Moorend Spout
Friday 25th September 2026:
https://events.humanitix.com/moorend-spout-bat-walk-25th-sep
If you are interested in hosting a bat walk, please get in touch via our email and we can run them for you.