With the annual spring clean now in progress, you may be considering making improvements to your home, but would you know if you were also sharing your home with Derbyshire's most iconic aerial residents? Bats and swifts are very peaceful neighbours that now rely on our built environment to survive. Because they nest in holes in buildings, make little noise and do not damage a building’s structure, they are often the ‘invisible’ links in our urban ecosystems. That’s why it’s important to check for resident wildlife, if you wish to make any improvements to your home, and ensure that any work makes your home a better place for all its inhabitants.

Making space for swifts

Claire Mead, from Derbyshire Swift Conservation, explains:

Swifts are a British bird extraordinaire: they live almost entirely on the wing, only landing to breed when they reach 3-4 years old. Despite this wild and free aerial lifestyle, their lives are entwined with ours: Swifts rely almost entirely on buildings to breed, nesting inside cavities in our homes, churches and other buildings. Some of these colonies are centuries old – their screeching calls as they whizz above in the sky are part of our summer in our villages, towns and cities.

Like much of our wildlife, Swifts are in serious trouble. Swifts have declined by 66% over the last 25 years, partially because most modern buildings don’t provide cavities for nesting. But there’s positive news: you can provide safe breeding nest site for swifts in your own home. It doesn’t cost the earth: a quality nest box or brick costs £45 - £50. If you are thinking of house improvements this Spring or are just keen to make your home wildlife friendly, there is positive action you can take.

How to share your home with peaceful swifts:

• Install a nest box: position at least two storeys high under the eaves, away from direct sun.
• Fit a swift brick: these can replace a regular brick - providing a permanent, integrated nesting cavity. They can be retrofitted or installed when renovating or extending your home.
• Collaborate: use professional installers, aerial fitters or builders to ensure these "homes within homes" are safe and effective.
• Seek advice: connect with Derbyshire Swift Conservation for specific guidance on your property's role within the local swift habitat.

Making space for bats

Similarly to swifts, bats also often roost in buildings, using existing cracks and crevices rather than building nests themselves. Bats will often occupy a roost for part of the year and will visit several different roost sites annually, for example, during the mating season or when raising young. Bats tend to be loyal to their roosts and will return to them each year. Bats suffered a considerable decline in the UK at the start of the 20^th century due to agricultural intensification, and populations have only recently started to stabilise. That’s why all bat roosts are legally protected in the UK. 

Ady Cox, Lead Nature Recovery Advisor at Wild Solutions, offers further advice:

If you have a bat roost in your loft, don’t worry! Most roosts are very small and will not cause any harm to you or damage to your property. It’s important to remember that all bat roosts are strictly protected by law so if you suspect you have a bat roost, you must not disturb them.

How to share your home with enigmatic bats:

If you are having re-roofing work done, it’s important to understand if bats are roosting. The most common species that uses houses are common pipistrelles which like to roost in spaces between roof tiles and roof felt. 

• Watch the roof: spend 30 minutes at sunset watching for bats emerging from roof tiles or soffit boxes.
• Expand the habitat: install bat boxes 3–4m high on south or southeast-facing walls or mature trees.
• Manage the environment: reduce artificial lighting, which can disrupt bat flight paths. Use motion sensors and angle lights downward to keep the "dark corridors" bats need to travel.
• Plant for the night: boost the local food chain by growing night-scented flowers like honeysuckle, evening primrose, and night-scented stock to attract the moths and nocturnal insects that bats rely on.
• Create a chemical-free oasis: add a pond to invite a diverse range of insects and avoid using pesticides, to ensure the ‘fuel’ for your local wildlife corridor remains safe and abundant.
• Seek and share advice: talk to your neighbours about coordinating your efforts, with guidance available from the Bat Conservation Trust. A continuous row of wildlife-friendly gardens is far more powerful for nature recovery than isolated patches.

Building a wilder Derbyshire, one home at a time

Whether you’re looking at large-scale works at home or are just hoping to tidy up your house and garden and make a little more space for nature in the process, there are plenty of simple and affordable options you could explore to make bats and swifts feel at home. With the veteran trees that these species once relied on now few and far between, our homes will play an increasingly important role in providing homes for nature, particularly in our towns and cities. 

Beyond helping individual species, high-quality, nature-rich urban spaces are proven to benefit people - reducing stress and improving wellbeing - proving that when we restore nature’s freedom, we also improve our own quality of life. Making a few simple changes, like those above, and encouraging your neighbours to do the same, can make a real meaningful impact - transforming urban streets into nature corridors and giving wildlife the space it needs to thrive alongside us. 

Find out more about Urban Rewilding