Talking Bat

Every month Aileen Hendry (BatAbility Courses & Tuition) is joined by Neil Middleton to deliver a 'light-hearted' monthly update for our BatAbility Club members. We are sharing it here for the benefit of anyone who wishes to find out more about what we are up to. If you are not a Club member, but would like to know more about how to join up, please go to the following link: batability.co.uk/ba...

A fabulous interview with Ricardo Rocha, who originates from Funchal, Madeira, Portugal. He is an Associate Professor of Conservation Science at University of Oxford, & Tutorial Fellow at Jesus College. During his academic life he has studied bird, reptile & bat ecology in many parts of the world. His PhD (Universities of Lisbon & Helsinki) addressed the effects of tropical forest frag...

Every month Aileen Hendry (BatAbility Courses & Tuition) is joined by Neil Middleton to deliver a 'light-hearted' monthly update for our BatAbility Club members. We are sharing it here for the benefit of anyone who wishes to find out more about what we are up to. If you are not a Club member, but would like to know more about how to join up, please go to the following link: batability.co.uk/ba...

Mel Findlay & Pat White are the authors of the recently published 'The Otter Field Survey & Monitoring Handbook - A Practical Guide to Field & Camera-Trap Surveys'. Mel is a seasoned consultant ecologist with >25 years’ experience, specialising in otters. Pat is an associate professor, based at the Centre for Conservation & Restoration Science at Edinburgh Napier University, his...

Here we had the huge pleasure of talking with Sarah Whild, author of the recently published 'The Biological Recording Handbook - Making Wildlife Count'. Sarah had a career teaching biological recording as a university lecturer. Now retired, amongst other things, she describes herself as a card-carrying botanist & drinker of good gin.  The Biological Recording Handbook - Making Wildlife Count -...

Every month Aileen Hendry (BatAbility Courses & Tuition) is joined by Neil Middleton to deliver a 'light-hearted' monthly update for our BatAbility Club members. We are sharing it here for the benefit of anyone who wishes to find out more about what we are up to. If you are not a Club member, but would like to know more about how to join up, please go to the following link: batability.co.uk/ba...

Absolutely delighted to be chatting with Graeme Lyons, the author of 'Pan-Species Listing - How to Become A Super-Naturalist'. This interview touches on same many areas, including aspects of Graeme's life, becoming an author, & of course, lots of information & the backstory to the book itself. Pan-Species Listing - How to Become A Super-Naturalist find out more here Visit Graeme's blog, 'T...

Every month Aileen Hendry (BatAbility Courses & Tuition) is joined by Neil Middleton to deliver a 'light-hearted' monthly update for our BatAbility Club members. We are sharing it here for the benefit of anyone who wishes to find out more about what we are up to. If you are not a Club member, but would like to know more about how to join up, please go to the following link: batability.co.uk/ba...

Chris Stone is an environmentalist & author. We are delighted to be talking with him here about his new book, published in February 2026, 'European Deserts - Sandy Wilderness on a Green Continent'. During the interview we explore the background to the book, some of the key points that Chris is seeking to make within its covers, & also Chris's experiences as an author. European Deserts - Sa...

Every month Aileen Hendry (BatAbility Courses & Tuition) is joined by Neil Middleton to deliver a 'light-hearted' monthly update for our BatAbility Club members. We are sharing it here for the benefit of anyone who wishes to find out more about what we are up to. If you are not a Club member, but would like to know more about how to join up, please go to the following link: batability.co.uk/ba...

During this interview, Aileen Hendry interviews Neil Middleton about his newly published book, 'Our Man Incognito - Tales from the Urban Bush'. We discuss the background to the book, a selection of short humerous stories based on everyday life events, as well as numerous associated subjects.   Neil Middleton - Author website here 'Our Man Incognito - Tales from the Urban Bush' find out more here

Frank Rennie is the author of numerous books, including his latest one, 'The Merlin - The Ecology of A Magical Raptor'. During this interview we are delighted to be talking to Frank about his experiences as an author, as well as the backdrop to this latest book. And, of course, as you would expect, there are a number of interesting tangents as our chat evolves.  The Merlin - The Ecology of A Magic...

Every month Aileen Hendry (BatAbility Courses & Tuition) is joined by Neil Middleton to deliver a 'light-hearted' monthly update for our BatAbility Club members. We are sharing it here for the benefit of anyone who wishes to find out more about what we are up to. If you are not a Club member, but would like to know more about how to join up, please go to the following link: batability.co.uk/ba...

Dr Mateo Ruiz is Head of Conservation at the Barn Owl Trust, after having first completing his post-graduate research on bird communities in coastal wetlands of Mexico. During this session we discuss in depth his experiences & career journey to date, along with exploring some of his other interests. Barn Owl Trust - find out more here

Every month Aileen Hendry (BatAbility Courses & Tuition) is joined by Neil Middleton to deliver a 'light-hearted' monthly update for our BatAbility Club members. We are sharing it here for the benefit of anyone who wishes to find out more about what we are up to. If you are not a Club member, but would like to know more about how to join up, please go to the following link: batability.co.uk/ba...

Here we are delighted to bring to you an interview with Ben Averis. Ben is highly respected within the ecology sector for his knowledge on botany, & along with his wife, Alison Averis, they have created sought after consultancy services, delivering many specialist botonatical surveys & training. As well as botany, Ben is also an artist, a musician & a poet, all of which we touch upon d...

An excellent interview with Gary Burns, an experienced & highly respected wildlife guide & natural history photographer based in Dubai (United Arab Emirates). He offers wildlife tours for those transiting through Dubai, or in the area already be that on holiday or more permanently. We have used Gary oursleves during a trip to the area, & were astonished to see what the area had to offe...

Every month Aileen Hendry (BatAbility Courses & Tuition) is joined by Neil Middleton to deliver a 'light-hearted' monthly update for our BatAbility Club members. We are sharing it here for the benefit of anyone who wishes to find out more about what we are up to. If you are not a Club member, but would like to know more about how to join up, please go to the following link: batability.co.uk/ba...

Dave Smallshire is hugely respected in the world of dragonflies, a subject about which he has authored many books, & also played a key part in their conservation. As well as all of this, he is a keen birder, photographer & an experienced wildlife guide. During this interview we explore many aspects of his life journey.  Dragonflies Of Britain & Ireland book Europe's Dragonflies book Br...

Dr Jonny Hanson is a Research Fellow at Queen's University (Belfast), an award-winning social entrepreneur, & an affiliate of the Snow Leopard Conservancy. His PhD research was centred on Snow leopard conservation. This, amongst other things, has lead to a short film (Snow Leopard Trail) about sharing landscapes with apex predators. The subject matter is of relevance to us here in Britain &amp...

Every month Aileen Hendry (BatAbility Courses & Tuition) is joined by Neil Middleton to deliver a 'light-hearted' monthly update for our BatAbility Club members. We are sharing it here for the benefit of anyone who wishes to find out more about what we are up to. If you are not a Club member, but would like to know more about how to join up, please go to the following link: batability.co.uk/ba...

An excellent interview with Simon Tonkin & Niki Williamson, the owners of Inglorious Bustards, based in Andalucia, Spain. During our chat we talk about, setting up their business, bird migration, eco-tourism, the trips they organise & the conservation work they are involved with in The Gambia. Inglorious Bustards - visit here Flyway Birding Association - visit here 

During the Bat Conservation Trust's National Bat Conference (Dutham, Sept 2025) we had the pleasure of catching up with many old friends, & meeting some new ones. Here we have created a podcast which includes some of the many people we engaged with. Massive thanks to all, including the following podcast participants - in order of appearance, as follows: Nigel Massen ( Pelagic Publishing ) Stev...

Here we are delighted to be speaking with George Bemment about the recently published 'Bats & Ladders, Stories from the Real World of Bat Conservation'. George has been involved with mammals her whole working life, as a zookeeper for 5 years, before taking a zoology degree & then in 1988 joining a national bat conservation project. Professional & voluntary bat work has dominated her li...

Every month Aileen Hendry (BatAbility Courses & Tuition) is joined by Neil Middleton to deliver a 'light-hearted' monthly update for our BatAbility Club members. We are sharing it here for the benefit of anyone who wishes to find out more about what we are up to. If you are not a Club member, but would like to know more about how to join up, please go to the following link: batability.co.uk/ba...