Index

3 September 2011

Bat Boxes

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Front Cover of book
Eco-Renovation
The Ecological Home
Improvement Guide

by Edward Harland

Published by
Green Books Ltd in 1993

ISBN 1 8700 9852 8

Text from page 26
Habitats for Bats

There are fifteen species of bat in Britain,
each with its own roosting requirements


Possible Bat Roosts
Image from: Eco-Renovation page 26
Traditionally, bats roosted in trees and caves, but their use of buildings has increased as woodland areas have been destroyed


Image from: Croydon
The advent of toxic preservatives in roofing timbers and the use of pesticides on farmland has had a devastating effect on bats

They find roosts in crevices, above soffits and behind tiles or boarding. Some live in hollow walls and roofspaces

They cause no damage whatsoever and can have a beneficial effect by keeping the insect populations down



Since 1981 there has been protection given for bats, and it is a punishable offence intentionally to damage, destroy or obstruct access to any place that a bat uses for shelter, or to disturb a bat whilst it is occupying such a place


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English Nature must be consulted if building maintenance, alterations or timber preservation treatments are planned at a site which is suspected of being a bat-habitat


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Failure to recognise the evidence of the presence of bats is not excusable in law. It is therefore the responsibility of the householder to be aware if their home is being used by bats

Most useful of all is to incorporate bat boxes or various bat access-points and roosts in suitable locations, mounted high on an east or south-facing wall

Special bat bricks are even available from builders merchants. They have bat-sized weatherproof holes
to allow access into the roof-spaces

Bat tiles can also be adapted from almost any ventilation tile by creating a small gap of around 20mm wide. It is important to create a small ductway through the roofing felt if you want to encourage them to use any unused roof space




links

Bat Access Box
Drawing shows inside of box, which provides various roosting positions for the bats

For more information, click Wienerberger Bricks





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Natural England, The National Trust and English Heritage all provide more information about bats in our buildings. Click on the images to download the documents


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