The greater horseshoe is one of 16 British bat species

The Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) is worried that it does not have enough volunteers in Wales who take part in the group's activities.

The shortage was discussed at a national event held at Llandrindod Wells on Saturday.

The BCT and the Countryside Council for Wales organised the event to bring together those with expert knowledge and expertise in Wales and people with a new interest in bats.

We hope this event will bring together everyone interested in bats in Wales, whether they're a bat beginner or a bat brain Alison Rasey, BCT

The BCT is the only national organisation solely devoted to the conservation of bats and their habitats in Britain.

Its network of 95 bat groups and more than 1,000 bat workers, survey roosts and hibernation sites.

Volunteer shortage

They work with householders, builders, farmers and foresters to protect the species.

"We are short of bat volunteers in Wales and we want that situation to change," said Sarah Leggett, the BCT's marketing officer.

The day included a series of talks and workshops covering a wide variety of bat-related topics, including research into some of the rarest species of bats in the UK, the barbastelle and the lesser horseshoe.

"We hope this event will bring together everyone interested in bats in Wales, whether they're a bat beginner or a bat brain," said Alison Rasey conservation officer for the Bat Conservation Trust.

There are 16 bat species in the UK, six of which are classed as endangered or rare.

They vary in size from the pipistrelle, weighing 4g to the noctule at 40g.