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/batability-club/

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 during this chat. Follow Ben on BlueSky: @averisben.bsky.social

Ben & Alison Averis website

Ben Averis Art website

Botanical Society of Scotland website

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 offer. Find out now for yourself - listen to this podcast.

Dubai Birding, Herping & Mammals website

Dubai Transit Birding, Herping & Mammals facebook

Barn Owl Trust

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/batability-club/

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

British Dragonfly Society

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 & Ireland, during a time when re-introduction of lynx is being discussed. The film is touring during late 2025 & 2026, with first showings at Queen's Film Theatre (22nd Oct 2025) & Clones Film Festival (23rd/26th Oct 2025)

Snow Leopard Trail - watch the teaser here

Living With Lynx - find out about the book here

Snow Leopard Conservancy - find out more here 

Jonny Hanson website 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/batability-club/

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:

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 life. A mammalogist at heart, she has also taught as a part-time lecturer in mammalogy (Exeter University), sat on the Council of the Mammal Society, & is a founding member of the Devon Mammal Group

Bats & Ladders - find out more about the book here

The Bat Conservation Trust