Many of us have properties that can be greatly improved by expanding or renovating, making it a great idea. However it’s important to remember that your family members are not the only inhabitants of your surroundings. Bats, birds, beneficial bugs, badgers, reptiles, bees, squirrels, mice, chipmunks, plants and many others live in our surroundings and they need to be considered ahead of any major project. It’s important to consider conservation of the environment when doing any home renovation – there are ways to compromise making both you and the environment happy. Read on to learn more about home renovation versus ecological conservation.
#1: Bats: What you Need to Know
Certain projects are more likely to upset the habitation of certain species than others. One of the main areas of concern is the conservation of bats. Bats are incredibly important to the ecosystem of our planet. Like bee’s, bats help pollinate our plants and they are also an amazing insecticide. Bats also help tell us learn about the environment and any changes that may be affecting it. Bats tend to reside in dark nooks and crannies such as those found in attics which mean loft conversions may be harmful to their habitat. Certain times of the year make bats more vulnerable to building work including while they are hibernating in the winter months or when babies are born during the summer months. An attic renovation for example may involve completely eradicating their roosts and an extension may involve destroying roosts on what are currently external walls.
So what can you do?
Bats are protected by law and it’s important that they are considered during any home renovation. The wisest thing to do is have a bat survey carried out prior to any works or the purchase of any materials. If bats do live in the area you want to develop a plan that can be altered after you hear the given advice. It doesn’t necessarily mean the work will not take place, but it might mean liaising with the correct authorities on your next course of action.
Other species affected by building works may require ecological surveys that will reveal more than just whether bats are present and will be looking for evidence of birds, badgers and even reptiles depending on the survey you book. Remember at all times that while the work on your home is important to you, we all share the planet. By consulting with the correct parties you will be doing your part to conserve the planet and all of the critters that inhabit it.
#2: Trees: What you Need to Know
When building a house extension homeowners need to avoid cutting down trees. Trees don’t just exist to look pretty; they are an important part of our ecosystem – they clean our air, provide shelter for animals, cool our homes in the summer. Some trees are protected by tree protection orders and they will need to be avoided by any measure. Even those that are not should be preserved wherever possible. Ecological surveys will include assessing the trees in the area you should you wish to expand.
When most people start thinking about making home renovations or considering an extension they worry about time, budget and project management. But one of the most important things to consider is the plants and animals we share our living space with. Our planet is home to a large number of protected species and it important to assess their habitation while we consider how we want to change our own too.
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