Protecting Bats, Protecting Nature

Image: Daubenton’s Bat (c) Daniel Hargreaves

About Pembrokeshire Bat Group

Pembrokeshire Bat Group includes members from all across Pembrokeshire, both north and south, and meets about once a quarter, with rotation of location wherever possible to keep travel fair for everyone!

We are a mixed group of people, from qualified ecologists and other environmental professionals to ordinary individuals who are just keen on knowing more and helping support bats. The group is mainly involved in co-ordinating and undertaking monitoring of bats across Pembrokeshire, through checks on roosts and emergence surveys, to gain better information about the distribution of bats in the county and inform current and future work on protecting them and their habitat.

Pembrokeshire Bat Group and its partners make a real difference in protecting our nocturnal wildlife. Whether you’re just curious and want to know more, keen to volunteer, or need advice—there’s an open invitation to come along to a meeting or drop us a message (use our contact page link). We are always happy to welcome whoever is interested and provide opportunities for you to contribute.

History of the Group


The group was established in 1986 as the Pembroke Bat Group with the focus on bat activity in the south of the County. In 1989, the group expanded its geographical scope to include the whole of the County and was renamed the Pembrokeshire Bat Group. The group is a Partner Bat Group of the Bat Conservation Trust.


We have welcomed new members and grown over time. We are a really enthusiastic group of people which includes not only some of those original founder members (who have, and are happy to share, an incredible wealth of knowledge about bats in Pembrokeshire) but also those who have joined much more recently, including at just the last few meetings!

Hands-on Bat Care


A couple of our members provide care for injured, orphaned or otherwise distressed bats, that need some support and rehabilitation before they are fit for release. If you become aware of a bat that needs help, they can be contacted through the facebook page – Pembrokeshire Bat Care, which you can access from our links.

Contact Us

The principal officers of the Pembrokeshire Bat Group are:

Chair:  Victoria Nicholls

Secretary: Mary Chadwick

Next Meeting:

29th October, Cylch Meithrin room Bloomfield community centre ,Narberth, 7pm.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions About Bats

Find answers to your queries about bat conservation.

Pembrokeshire is home to several bat species, including:

  • Common Pipistrelle and Soprano Pipistrelle
  • Brown Long-Eared Bat
  • Daubenton’s Bat
  • Whiskered Bat and Brandt’s Bat
  • Greater Horseshoe Bat (largest population in the UK)
  • Lesser Horseshoe Bat
  • Barbastelle Bat (Pembrokeshire is the only place in Wales where breeding colonies of this rare bat have been identified)

You can volunteer with us, participate in local events, or simply educate others about bats. There is lots of information on the Bat Conservation Trust website.

No, bats generally pose no threat to humans and are beneficial for pest control. However, a very small number of British bats have been found to carry rabies out of many thousands tested, so always wear gloves if you need to handle a bat. Read more on rabies in bats>

Firstly, call the Bat Conservation Trust helpline on 0345 1300 228 and they will give you advice and may put you in touch with a local bat carer. Follow BCT’s guidance for containing an injured bat if you need to get it to a bat carer.

Always wear gloves when handling a bat. Dead bats found by members of the public should be sent for analysis as part of a surveillance programme for rabies. Contact the Bat Conservation Trust for guidance. They may send someone to collect the bat or send you a pack to send to a lab for testing.

Don’t panic – Close the doors, open a window and let it fly out. Don’t try and throw a towel or cloth over the bat to catch the bat as this could injure it. Bats have a sophisticated echolocation system that will help it find the open window. If in doubt, or if bats are frequently appearing in your house, phone the National Bat Helpline on 0345 1300 228 or use their Contact page

Ask something else…
Your local bat conservation heroes.

Your local partner in bat conservation and awareness.

Join us in our mission to conserve bat populations.

Get in touch to find out more

Get Involved

Brown Long-Eared Bat being released after checking

Lesser horseshoe bat hibernating by Daniel Hargreaves
Lesser Horseshoe Bat Hibernating by Daniel Hargreaves

We focus on conserving bat populations and their natural environments.

We encourage volunteers to participate in conservation efforts and research.

Pembrokeshire Bat Care:

Examples of recently rescued bats. Brown Long-Eared are quite common, but Leisler’s Bats are unusual in Pembrokeshire and one of the larger British species. The one pictured below may have exhausted himself migrating from Ireland.

  • Brown Long Ear
  • Leisler’s Bat
  • Leisler’s Bat

Contact Pembrokeshire Bat Care