Bats are fascinating and important creatures that play a crucial role in our ecosystem. Unfortunately, many bat species are in decline due to habitat loss, being killed, and other threats. As such, it’s important to take steps to protect bats and their habitats, including the roofs of our buildings and homes. In this blog post, we’ll explore how to create a safe roof for bats, with a focus on bat-friendly tiles and expert advice.
First, it’s important to note that bats are protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and it is illegal to disturb bats intentionally or recklessly or damage their roosts. This means that if you are planning any work on your roof, you must take steps to ensure that you don’t harm any bats or their roosts.
One of the best ways to create a safe roof for bats is to use bat-friendly tiles. Bat-friendly tiles are specially designed to provide the ideal conditions for bats to roost, while also being aesthetically pleasing and durable. These tiles are made from clay and have a rough surface that allows bats to grip onto them easily. They also have a series of grooves or channels that provide an ideal roosting space for bats.
When selecting bat-friendly tiles, it’s important to choose a design that is appropriate for the species of bat that is likely to use your roof. Different bat species have different roosting requirements, so it’s important to consult with an expert to ensure that you choose the right tiles.
In addition to using bat-friendly tiles, there are several other steps you can take to create a safe roof for bats. These include:
- Conducting a survey: Before undertaking any work on your roof, it’s important to conduct a survey to determine if there are any bats or bat roosts present. This will help you to determine what measures need to be taken to protect them.
- Installing bat boxes: If there are no suitable roosting spaces on your roof, you can install bat boxes nearby to provide an alternative roosting site for bats.
- Avoiding disturbance: Once you have identified that there are bats present, it’s important to avoid disturbing them as much as possible. This may mean postponing work until the bats have finished roosting or taking steps to work around them.
- Seeking expert advice: If you are unsure about how to proceed, it’s important to seek expert advice from a bat specialist or ecologist.
Creating a safe roof for bats is an important step in protecting these fascinating and important creatures. By using bat-friendly tiles and taking other measures to protect bats and their roosts, we can help to ensure that they continue to thrive in our local ecosystems. Remember, bats are protected in the UK, so it’s important to be careful and seek expert advice before undertaking any work on your roof.
We provide a range of bat friendly clay roof tiles so if you need help – we have over 50 years’ experience within the roofing industry – get in touch today.
