Householders have positive attitudes to having bird and bat boxes

Householders have positive attitudes to having bird and bat boxes

Swifts by David Naylor

We have some useful and encouraging research news to report.

The research investigated the attitudes of householders towards integral boxes for birds and bats in order to inform housing developers, planners etc involved in promoting the inclusion of integral boxes into housing developments. The research was carried out by Sarah Roberts from at the University of Gloucestershire in December 2017.

Of 142 people interviewed, 75% thought it a good idea and a further 24% were neutral about it.

Of the remaining three people who experienced some problems, only one thought it was a bad idea.

Compared to even 20 years ago, swift numbers have dropped by up to a half
Nick Brown
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust
Integral bird boxes - Photo by Sarah Roberts, Isle of Wight 

Integral bird boxes - Photo by Sarah Roberts, Isle of Wight 

Thus, “Should any architect or developer have fears that bird or bat boxes might have a negative effect on their ability to sell houses, they can relax.
The evidence is that their houses become more attractive to the buyer if they have integral boxes”.