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A new youth-led conservation group is launching in Argyll and the Inner Hebrides, giving young people aged 14 to 18 the chance to play a leading role in protecting some of Scotland’s most under-studied animals.
The Argyll and Islands Youth Bat Council is a new initiative run through Species on the Edge, an endangered species conservation programme working across Scotland’s coasts and islands. The group is believed to be the first of its kind in the region and will be open to young people who want to learn about, survey and protect local bat populations.
Four species of bat can be found across the region: the common pipistrelle; soprano pipistrelle; Daubenton’s bat; and the brown long-eared bat.
The initiative will be kicked off with an online event on 5th May at 7:30pm which will provide an opportunity for young people to learn more about this unique opportunity.
Why bats need help in Argyll and the Inner Hebrides
Bat populations have declined considerably over the last century across the UK, in particular due to building development and changes in land-use. Scotland’s island populations face additional pressures: the isolation of populations (making it harder to recover if numbers drop), harsh weather, and limited habitats (particularly on islands with fewer trees).
There is also a significant gap in knowledge. Bats across Scotland’s coasts and islands are hugely under-recorded, and very little is currently known about where they live, how populations are changing, what the main threats are and how we can best help them. The Youth Bat Council aims to help change that.
What young people will gain
Members of the Argyll and Islands Youth Bat Council will receive training through Bat Conservation Trust, gaining skills in bat surveying, species identification, and data collection. They will also develop an understanding of wildlife law and responsible conservation practice.
Beyond technical skills, the group is designed to build leadership, teamwork and project management experience. Young people will be supported to run the group themselves and to lead their own bat conservation projects within their local communities. The activities the group takes on will be shaped by its members.
Online launch event — 5 May 2026
An online launch event will take place on Tuesday 5 May 2026 at 7:30pm via Microsoft Teams. The event is open to any young person interested in finding out more about the group, what membership involves, and why bats in the Argyll and Inner Hebrides area need support right now.
Kelly, Species on the Edge’s Bat Conservation Trust Officer, said: “Bats are fascinating creatures and they need our help, especially here on the west coast of Scotland. The Argyll and Islands Youth Bat Council will give young people the skills, knowledge and confidence to become real conservation leaders and make a difference for their local bats. I can’t wait to meet the young people who’ll be shaping what this group does and leading the way on bat conservation in their communities.”
To register for the launch event or to find out more, email Kelly: KBow@bats.org.uk
