About Lincolnshire Bat Group
Lincolnshire is the bulge above East Anglia on the east side of Great Britain and is the second-largest county in England and largely rural (and often unheard of so hence the introduction.)
Lincolnshire is home to at least 11 of the 18 British resident breeding species of bat. Among the most widespread are the three Pipistrelle species—common, soprano and Nathusius’—alongside Brown long‑eared and Daubenton’s bats. The county is also home to several scarcer species, including Natterer’s, Whiskered. Brandt’s, Noctule, Leisler’s and the elusive Barbastelle.
Lincolnshire Bat Group was formed in 1983 and developed from an earlier group which then joined others under the umbrella of the Bat Conservation Trust. The aims of the group as set out in “our constitution” are to promote bat conservation to the general public to undertake research on bat distribution and bat behaviour in Lincolnshire and to support the authorities in the statutory protection of bats.
We promote the interests of bats throughout the county at shows, bat walks and talks.
We undertake surveys to record the distribution of bats at different parts of the county in conjunction with various projects. Bat numbers in the UK have dropped dramatically over the last century. By helping the Bat Conservation Trust, other natural history groups and researchers to monitor the bats in the UK we can find out more about the factors which are helpful in bat survival.
We have registered carers in the county who undertake the care and rehabilitation of sick and injured bats with a view to returning them to the wild where possible.
Our county bat recorder collects sightings and roost information to establish a picture of the distribution and trends of the bat population in the county.
The bat group gets together once a quarter to hold meetings and has a social event at the end of the year. These are usually held in Horncastle as it is fairly central in the county.
We also send out periodical e-bulletins through MailChimp to keep members informed of what is happening and what they can get involved in.
Our committee currently includes a chairperson, secretary, membership secretary, treasurer, bulletin editor and records officer (position vacant) but meetings are open to the membership.
The carers group and events organisers sometimes hold separate meetings.
At the last few AGMs, we have seen several changes in personnel. In 2024, many of these came as a result of the well‑earned retirement of Annette Faulkner. Annette’s contribution to Lincolnshire’s bats has been nothing short of extraordinary. We could try to express just how much her dedication has meant over the years, but the clearest measure of her impact is this: it now takes four people to carry out the work she once handled single‑handedly. Few legacies shine brighter than that. As a result:
– Helen Scarborough is now looking after the Helpline and information requests -01526 344726 and info@lincsbatgroup.co.uk
– The County Recorder position is currently vacant, with bat records gathered at shows and events in the meantime. Annette carried out this role for an incredible 25 years, long before computerisation made the task easier. Her dedication set the standard, and work is now underway to develop a new and improved system for recording sightings—an exciting step forward built on the foundations she laid. You can report any sightings to lincolnshirebatrecords@outlook.com
– Kiran is co-ordinating bat carers and bat care in the county (and sometimes along the borders). There is now an online form for anyone finding grounded bats via Grounded Bat Form. However, if in doubt contact the BCT number. 0345 1300 228
At the 2026 AGM, our esteemed Chairman, Ian Nixon, stepped down from the helm, despite our collective efforts to persuade him to stay. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to Ian for his outstanding leadership and dedication over the past ten years. As Becca Claxton steps into the role, she recognises she has big shoes to fill, and we are confident she will rise to the challenge with energy and commitment.