Kent Bat Group

Serotine bat © Sally-Ann Hurry
Natterer's bat © Shirley Thompson
Flying Brown long-eared Bat © Roger L Jones

The Kent Bat Group has been working to help protect the county's bats and learn more about them since 1983. This work varies from raising awareness of bats through talks to a wide range of audiences, to surveying and monitoring bat populations and caring for grounded bats. Find out more about us.

Help, I've found a bat!

Any bat found out during the daytime or on the ground usually needs help.

Find out what to do

Join us!

Get involved and show your support by becoming a Kent Bat Group member.

Join from £6/year

Learn about bats

Find out which bat species occur in Kent, all about bat recording, conservation and more!

Learn about bats in Kent

Support us

Make a donation, sign up to 'Give as you Live', purchase vital equipment from our Amazon wish list or volunteer your time.

Support Kent Bat Group

Bat rehabilitation

Kent Bat Groups cares for many sick and injured bats, with the aim of returning them to their roosts.

Find out more

Recording bats

Do you have a roost in your neighbourhood, or regularly see bats flying and feeding?

Submit bat records

Upcoming Events

Jan

2025

Volunteers needed for Kent LWS and Bats in Churches Monitoring Project 2025

Aug

2025

Mote Park Bioblitz - volunteer opportunities
Mote Park

Sep

2025

Bat Conservation Trust - National Bat Conference
Durham University

Oct

2025

Our AGM
Lenham Community Centre

Dec

2025

Dover's bats: heritage and wildlife conservation intertwined - Zoom presentation

Kent Bat Group Photos

A denehole hibernation site check from 04-01-2025. On this occasion just 2 Daubenton's were found. Many years ago the numbers using this site were in the 30's. Until a few days earlier the weather had been rather mild and it's possible the bats were still moving about prior to settling in for winter.

This denehole is approximately 10m deep with three chambers coming off it.

N.B. The survey has been completed at this point and the surveyors mask was removed for the final part of the climb out.
denge denehole check 04 01

A denehole hibernation site check from 04-01-2025. On this occasion just 2 Daubenton's were found. Many years ago the numbers using this site were in the 30's. Until a few days earlier the weather had been rather mild and it's possible the bats were still moving about prior to settling in for winter.

This denehole is approximately 10m deep with three chambers coming off it.

N.B. The survey has been completed at this point and the surveyors mask was removed for the final part of the climb out.
Having some crafting fun with children at an event, colouring in and making flying bats.

Having some crafting fun with children at an event, colouring in and making flying bats.
This bat was recorded on a hibernation survey in February 2024. Tucked away in crevices it's not always easy to identify bats, but this photograph taken on a mobile phone to minimise disturbance, shows the large, bristly feet which tells the surveyors it's a Daubenton's bat (Myotis daubentonii).

This bat was recorded on a hibernation survey in February 2024. Tucked away in crevices it's not always easy to identify bats, but this photograph taken on a mobile phone to minimise disturbance, shows the large, bristly feet which tells the surveyors it's a Daubenton's bat (Myotis daubentonii).
Some work being done by a team from Kent Underground Research Group to allow safe access to a denehole so that hibernating bats can be monitored. This requires engineering skills and willing volunteers to install. The deneholes can be very deep with side chambers, ideal conditions for hibernating bats but tricky to access without specialist equipment.
denehole platform

Some work being done by a team from Kent Underground Research Group to allow safe access to a denehole so that hibernating bats can be monitored. This requires engineering skills and willing volunteers to install. The deneholes can be very deep with side chambers, ideal conditions for hibernating bats but tricky to access without specialist equipment.
A typical display at an organised event.
kbg stand19

A typical display at an organised event.
Hazel Ryan being interviewed by Rob Smith at an open garden event for a Kent Wildlife Trust podcast.

Hazel Ryan being interviewed by Rob Smith at an open garden event for a Kent Wildlife Trust podcast.
A Lesser horseshoe bat, a species currently using Dover castle to hibernate in.
lesser horseshoe

A Lesser horseshoe bat, a species currently using Dover castle to hibernate in.
A pipistrelle pup, rescued and being rehabilitated so that it can go back to the wild.
pup

A pipistrelle pup, rescued and being rehabilitated so that it can go back to the wild.
Whiskered bat - © Sally-Ann Hurry
whiskered bat

Whiskered bat - © Sally-Ann Hurry