THE BAT HOUSE

A new bat habitat in the Surrey Hills, providing a home for a range of Pipistrelles and long-eared bats. A new replacement habitat was required following the discovery of roosting bats in a near by derelict house on the site scheduled for demolition and re development. We worked with the client to consider how and where to create the required 4x4m loft space that is considered the minimum space standard for a rare long eared bat. Instead of housing the bats within the rebuilt house, we created a separate folly like structure further down the hill surrounded by a crescent of mature Ash and Oak – creating a peaceful home for the bats elevated into the trees providing food on their doorstep – and a place of solace for the nearby homeowners to use occasionally as a tea house with views over the valley. The bat house is made with a Douglas fir frame, clad with larch. Bats enter and leave discretely through openings between with the roof slates and slots in the larch clad gable ends.