How to build a bat box

Our gardens and public green spaces are vitally important habitats for wildlife, including bats. Northern Ireland is home to eight species of bat, the largest being the Leisler's bat which weighs the same as a packet of crisps, and the smallest is the pipistrelle, which weighs as little as a 2p coin. This diminutive bat has a giant appetite, however – it is known to gobble up more than 500 insects in an hour!

Installing a bat box will help local bats, encouraging them to move into areas that have limited roosting space. All our bats are insect-eaters, so having a few flitting around might just make those evenings in the garden a little less buggy! 

What you need:

• Untreated rough sawn timber
• Hammer
• Nails
• Tape measure and pencil

Our gardens and public green spaces are vitally important habitats for wildlife, including bats

How to build your bat box:

See the illustration below for a step-by-step guide to putting together your bat box.

Remember!

All bats and their roosts are protected by law, which means it is illegal to harm or disturb them. Once up, a bat box cannot be opened legally without a licence. For more information on bats and the law contact the Northern Ireland Bat Group