27/05/2026
🦇 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐬
Woodworm and bats often go hand in hand when you work with period and listed properties like us. However, bats are highly threatened mammals, and their successful conservation depends on the availability of a range of roost sites that meet their needs throughout the year; they therefore depend very much on the goodwill of owners of properties like you.
𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁
You may not be aware that you have bats roosting in your property, but very aware of the presence of woodworm. In that case, a timber treatment specialist like us will carry out a full survey, looking for evidence of both woodworm and bats, either historic or active.
If we believe bats are, have or will be roosting, we’ll need to call in the experts.
𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱
Call the National Bat Helpline, run by the Bat Conservation Trust on 0345 1300 228, to find your nearest bat specialist. In our case, we work with Natural England.
Natural England offers free advice for householders where evidence of bats is present. They will advise on how and when proposed work should be carried out in order to prevent harm to bats and comply with the relevant legislation.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲:
• Many species of bat are seasonal visitors to their roost sites
• Some, however, stay all year round and hibernate on site
• The most common time for bats to be away from their roost site is April, and mid-September to October.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘀
Contractors must be informed of the roost site before work begins and if you have followed the advice from the bat conservationist, you should be able to commence treating the timbers within the advised timeframe.
First, a thorough search of the property should be undertaken, using a soft brush to reach the crevices and help locate any bats hidden inside.
Ideally the treatment chemical will be painted onto the timbers, not sprayed, and only bat appropriate chemicals should be used in minimal volumes.
Look for a treatment fluid containing a synthetic pyrethroid or boron compound, to treat wood-boring insect, with a copper, zinc or boron compound to prevent rot, preferably in emulsion or aqueous solution.
Do NOT proceed if bats are actually present and contact the helpline for further advice.
Just to remind you that 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀. They should not be removed from their chosen roost site and any potential access gaps to the building should not be blocked up.
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘀
We have experience of working with woodworm in historic buildings and of protecting the sites chosen by bats for roosting.
We will survey your property and provide you with the necessary contact details for advice from the bat experts. We’ll then return to treat your timbers as appropriate.
Please also bear in mind that your infestation may in fact be historic and inactive, so there’s zero risk to your property or the - but you won’t know until you call the surveyors in!
Contact us on 01865 718 383 or visit the website page for more information.
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