Training
In the United Kingdom, all bats are protected species. Anything which disturbs bats themselves, or significantly disturbs or alters their roosts requires an appropriate licence. Volunteer bat roost visitors and consultants undertaking survey work also need to be licensed.
Training for these licences has, in the past, required a considerable amount of study under the guidance of a recognised trainer spread over a period of months or even years, partly because the trainer and trainee were operating on a volunteer basis.
Recently some trainers have started offering more intensive courses, where a trainee can attend courses over a shorter time span and couple this with practical experience gained in the field to qualify for the licence sooner. This is of particular interest to environmental consultants who would like to be able to offer bat-related services to their clients.
Gail is a recognised qualified trainer, and can assist you whether you want to become a volunteer bat worker, or need your bat licence for consultancy work. Contact her for more details.