#50 - The Life of Batman: An In-depth Conversation with Richard Crompton

Welcome to the Ecology Academy podcast, where host Richard Dodd interviews Richard Crompton from Ecology On Demand. Dive into a fascinating discussion as Richard shares insights from his 26-year career in bat and ecology work, focusing on his unique consulting service dedicated to supporting fellow ecologists. Discover the intricacies of ecological licenses, the significance of staying updated with technological advancements, and the importance of hands-on training through Richard's ventures like Team Bat.

Explore Richard's ambitious project aimed at transforming a country estate into a sanctuary for bats while fostering community and employment. Learn about the upcoming tech conference for ecologists, designed to equip participants with the knowledge and tools needed to excel in their field. Richard also touches upon the evolving ecology guidelines and their impact on the industry.

Engage with this conversation to gain insights into the challenges and triumphs within the ecological sector and find inspiration to contribute to a sustainable natural environment. Stay curious, be adventurous, and build bridges for a better tomorrow.

About Richard Crompton

Richard started studying bats whilst volunteering with the National Trust aged just 16. He was licensed in Wales by the age of 22 and undertaking commercial bat surveys. Skip forward 25 years and he has surveyed well over one thousand sites for bats, held dozens of European Protected Species licences since 2001 for more than a dozen different species of bats, delivered training throughout the England and Wales (to several thousand people). He spent nine years as a Trustee for the Bat Conservation Trust and has been an author/editorial board member for all four editions of the bat survey guidelines. Founder and co-director of award winning consultancy Wildwood Ecology Ltd until 2016 he now runs the Ecology on Demand bat advice service, the Bat Training partnership (who have trained over 300 people for their bat licences between 2008-2020) and the Team Bat online platform. He was elected to the Bat Conservation Trusts' Batty Hall of Fame in 2022 and is their 'agony uncle' for the Ecologists Anonymous - bat mitigation workshops. He is currently the resident bat advisor for the Crown Estate at Windsor Park, Cardigan Castle, The Museum of Welsh Life at St Fagans Cardiff, and Margam Park and Castle near Port Talbot - all great sites for bats!

Connect with Richard Crompton on LinkedIn

Find out more at Ecology on Demand or Team Bat