About the event

Learn about bats and how we survey them under the guidance of Education Officer and 'everything bat' enthusiast Laura Ashfield. She will begin the evening in the classroom where she will teach you how professionals manage bat surveys using the latest technology to record their findings before taking you on a walk through the woods at dusk when the creatures of the night come alive. It will then be your turn to conduct a survey using this equipment. Bring a chair, torch, blanket and a flask for your hour in the woods monitoring the bat activity of Nower Wood.

You will then reconvene in the classroom to discuss your findings over a well deserved cuppa. The evening will finish with Laura leading a discussion about the 17 British species of bat including their life cycle, habitat and feeding patterns. 

Tutor Profile - Laura Ashfield

Laura has been “batty about bats” since her university days when she wrote a paper about them and their behaviour. She has helped with ecological bat surveys for consultancy firms and led countless bat walks for local community groups, the Wildlife Trusts and the Royal Parks. By day she works for the Surrey Wildlife Trust engaging with school communities, increasing their connection with, and encouraging them to take action for nature.