Highlights from the Wytch Wood Camping 2024 Bat Talks

Elise Newman

30 January 2025

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Embracing the Night: Highlights from the Wytch Wood Camping 2024 Bat Talks

In 2024, Wytch Wood Camping & Glamping was thrilled to host not one, but two, magical bat talk events in collaboration with the Somerset Bat Group.

 

These special evenings, held on June 8th and August 24th, offered guests an opportunity to learn about the fascinating world of bats while experiencing the unique atmosphere of our ancient woodland.

 

The events were more than just an evening out—they aimed to inspire guests to appreciate and protect these incredible flying mammals while raising vital funds for bat conservation.

Event Highlights

 

The June event welcomed a small, intimate group of 8 guests, while the August session saw over 30 attendees come together under the twilight sky. Guests were asked for a voluntary donation of £5 per person, and Wytch Wood Camping topped up the total to an amazing £150 for the Somerset Bat Group.

 

Each session began just before dusk with a short talk led by local ecologist and bat expert Jessica Cole. Using educational resources and equipment provided by the Somerset Bat Group, Jessica captivated the audience with her knowledge of bats, covering:

  • The differences between native UK bat species.
  • Their habitats and behaviours.
  • The challenges bats face in the wild and how we can help protect them.
2024 Bat Talks | Wytch Wood Camping and Glamping | Somerset

After the talk, participants set off on a twilight walk through the Wytch Wood Campsite, the adjacent 30 acres Blackmore ancient woodlands, and surrounding farmland. Guests had the chance to use two types of bat detectors:

  1. One that amplifies bat calls and plays them back at a frequency audible to humans.
  2. Another that provides a visual representation of the sounds and identifies the bat species making them.

Attendees were encouraged to try the equipment and work together to spot bats as they darted through the trees and across the farmland.

Bats Spotted and Identified

Both events were a huge success, with participants spotting multiple bat species, including:

  • Soprano Pipistrelle – a tiny but active flier.
  • Common Pipistrelle – one of the most frequently seen bats in the UK.
  • Noctule Bat – the largest bat species in the UK, so large it was mistaken for a bird at first!

Seeing and hearing these fascinating creatures in action was a highlight for many guests, with one remarking,

“It was amazing to use the detectors and learn how to identify bats by their calls—I never knew so much was happening in the night sky!”

The Impact of Funds Raised

 

Thanks to the generosity of attendees and Wytch Wood Camping’s contribution, the £150 raised will help the Somerset Bat Group with their vital work. For example, a donation of £100 can fund an extra bat detector, which is crucial for both bat surveys and educational events.

 

The funds also support:

  • Habitat Conservation: Enhancing spaces for bats to roost and forage.
  • Public Education: Hosting workshops and creating materials to raise awareness about bat conservation.
  • Research and Monitoring: Studying bat populations to better protect them.
  • Rescue and Rehabilitation: Helping injured or orphaned bats return to the wild.

Your contribution makes a tangible difference in preserving Somerset’s bat populations—thank you!

 

Why Bats Thrive at Wytch Wood

Bats are a common sight at twilight here at Wytch Wood Camping. Our 30-acre ancient woodland, much of which is wild and unmanaged, provides an ideal habitat for them to thrive. The sessions not only celebrated the natural beauty of the site but also educated guests on how they can make a difference for bats in their own backyards.

 

Hosting events like these aligns perfectly with our commitment to environmental sustainability and education, values recognised by our Silver Green Tourism award.

 

What’s Next?

We’re already planning more bat talk events for 2025! These will continue to showcase the beauty and wonder of the natural world while educating and inspiring our guests. If you’d like to join one of our future sessions, let us know—we’d love to see you there.

Get Involved

Want to do more for bats? Here’s how you can help:

  • Support the Somerset Bat Group with a donation or bequest.
  • Find out more about bats and your local community group via the Bat Conservation Trust
  • Create bat-friendly spaces in your garden or community by installing bat boxes.
  • Spread awareness by sharing this post!

 

 

Together, we can ensure these fascinating creatures continue to grace our skies for generations to come.

 
 
 
 
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 Kim Burggraaff 
 
 
 
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Such a lovely and warm place, Beautiful in and with respect for the nature.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Clive Brown 
 
 
 
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Amazing quiet and peaceful site with only twelve pitches, each with their own loo.  Showers and washing up areas very clean.  There is an 'honesty shop' which was very useful and the host Elise was so helpful and welcoming.  Thoroughly recommend if you are looking for a peaceful break.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Bram Bijleveld 
 
 
 
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We absolutely love Wytch Wood campsite. It is our favorite campsite of the UK and we have been here 3 times yet because of that. Elise is a wonderful host, makes you feel very welcome. The site is beautiful and all the activities (yoga, workshops for children/adults, pizza night) are great. Her staff is very friendly & helpful. And last but not least…so many lovely animals in the field and their own ‘fairytale like’ forrest (sheep, horses, bats, deer, owls). Fantastic! Would really recommend staying here.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Ella Ameye 
 
 
 
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Wauw wauw wauw. Heerlijk rustige, kleinschalige camping midden in de natuur. Heel ruime plekken tussen de bomen, elk met een eigen compost-toilet, vuurschaal en grill. Elise runt de plek met zoveel toewijding en doet het allemaal: van een barista-waardige flatwhite in de ochtend tot zuurdesempizza’s in de steenoven op woensdagavonden. We bleven hier 5 nachten met onze baby en konden hier helemaal ontspannen. Voldoende uitstapjes in de buurt! Absolute aanrader voor wie houdt van eco-camping. We’ll be back!
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Simon Perez-Lumbreras 
 
 
 
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This spot is absolutely gorgeous! It's ideal for tents or smaller camper vans, and I loved how quiet and picturesque it was. Such a lovely place to relax and enjoy the scenery. Highly recommend!
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Daniel Streat 
 
 
 
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Beautiful location and wonderful low-impact facilities. We loved the pizza, foraging for wild strawberries, paddling in the stream and lying in hammocks in the woods. One of the best campsites we’ve ever been to.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Toby Westcott-White 
 
 
 
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This campsite is fantastic! We had a lovely pitch right by the stream and enjoyed the fire pit. The facilities were excellent with compost toilets at each pitch. Unfortunately, we missed out on the pizza, coffee shop and bar as they were closed during our visit outside of school holidays and during the working week. We highly recommend this site.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Peter McWhinney-Tripp 
 
 
 
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As others have said, it's a lovely secluded place and well kept. Camping area surrounded by trees. Kids can run about. Facilities are great for a low impact site; hot water, shelters and pizza preordered etc.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 BISTRO CHEF 
 
 
 
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We just had a magical family weekend at Wytch wood camping! A massive thank you to Elise and her team for a great welcoming and amazing services. We sincerely hope to return ☺️

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