BaTML (Bats & The Millennium Link) Project

BATS & The Millennium Link (BaTML) was launched in late 2000 with a view to monitoring the bat populations along and adjacent to the Forth & Clyde and Union Canal network that connects the east coast of Scotland with the west coast. The project concluded in 2007. At the time, these canals, after heavy investment, were in the process of undergoing major changes during a period when they had been completely re-opened to water traffic. From an environmental point of view these changes were by no means all negative. Many positive things are happening which we are sure will benefit the local wildlife and bats in particular. As such our canals should continue to remain very valuable wildlife corridors. The project was set up primarily to study the following species of bat: Myotis daubentonii (Daubenton’s Bat); Pipistrellus pygmaeus (Soprano pipistrelle); Pipistrellus pipistrellus (Common pipistrelle)

Project Goals

The following were put in place as the main objectives of BaTML:
– Establish benchmark data regarding bat activity and monitor trends thereafter.
– Gather information regarding diet, behaviour and use of habitat.
– Produce distribution maps for the 3 species of bat being studied.
– Locate, monitor and protect bat roosts found in the study area.
– Contribute towards Local Biodiversity Action Planning.
– Raise public awareness of bat related issues and improve the image of bats generally.

To help us in achieving these objectives we also got involved with Habitat Assessment, Insect Studies, Training, Public Walks/Talks and wider Public Relations activity. Note that BaTML was a non-profit making organisation and the money generated through our activities was used directly for the benefit of our research and/or bat conservation generally.

Funders and Supporters
All of our results were achieved in conjunction with a network of enthusiastic volunteers without whom we would have struggled to come anywhere close to our goals. We would like to thank everyone involved for their support. We are greatly appreciative of the funding obtained from British Waterways, Falkirk Environment Trust and Scottish Natural Heritage. Without this we would not have been able to do anything meaningful. In addition to our funders we are also keen to acknowledge the support/encouragement given to us by the following organisations:

Bat Conservation Trust     BTCV     Central Scotland Bat Group

Clyde Bat Group     Lothians Bat Group

BaTML Publications
BaTML Publications was the annual journal produced by the BATS & The Millennium Link (BaTML) project. The core objective behind this journal was to make available, within the public domain, as much detail as possible of the work carried out by or in association with BaTML. In addition to this, however, we were happy to consider including material from other people or organisations relating to bat studies and in particular the areas of study we are involved with.

Please click on the documents below to download further information:

BaTML Published Papers:
BaTML_Publications_Vol_3_December_2006_Cover_Page
BaTML_Publications_Vol_3_Contents_P1
BaTML_Publications_Vol_3_A_small_scale_study_T_L_Smith_P2-18
BaTML_Publications_Vol_3_The_speed_of_travel_of_M_daub_NM_P19-22
BaTML_Publications_Vol_3_Pip_Social_Calls_NM_P23-28
BaTML_Publications_Vol_3_Pipistrelle_results_NM_KG_P29-36
BaTML_Publications_Vol_3_Daubentons_Results_NM_P37-42

BaTML_Publications_Cover_Page_Vol_2_December_2005
BaTML_Publications_Vol_2_Contents_P1
BaTML_Publications_Vol_2_A_new_methodology_for_P2-8
BaTML_Publications_Vol_2_The_Methods_Adopted_P9-14
BaTML_Publications_Vol_2_The_diet_of_Daubentons_P15-17
BaTML_Publications_Vol_2_Narrowing_down_the_P18-22
BaTML_Publications_Vol_2_Factors_affecting_the_P23

BaTML_Publications_Cover_Page_Vol_1_December_2004
BaTML_Publications_Vol_1_Contents_P1
BaTML_Publications_Vol_1_Introducing_BaTML_P2-5
BaTML_Publications_Vol_1_Survey_Form_Template_Text_P6-10
BaTML_Publications_Vol_1_The_results_of_aquatic_P11-12
BaTML_Publications_Vol_1_The_results_of_vegetation_surveys_P13-14
BaTML_Publications_Vol_1_Activity_relating_to_Daubentons_P15-20
BaTML_Publications_Vol_1_A_study_of_bats_at_Birkhill_P21-27

BaTML Newsletters:
BaTML News1
BaTML News2
BaTML News3
BaTML News4
BaTML News5
BaTML News6
BaTML News7
BaTML News8
BaTML News9
BaTML News10
BaTML News11
BaTML News12

BaTML Factsheets:
BaTML_Factsheet_Analysis_Of_Bat_Droppings

BaTML_Factsheet_Habitat_Use_Model

BaTML_Factsheet_Harp_Trapping

BaTML_Factsheet_Organising_Bat_Walks &Talks

BaTML_Habibat_Factsheet_Freshwater_Sites

BaTML_Habibat_Factsheet_Suburban_Parkland_Farmland

BaTML_Habibat_Factsheet_Woodland