While work on the chimneys and roof of Reepham’s Bircham Centre has begun, work on the attics could not start until the building received its bat licence.
A brown long-eared bat. Photo: Stock Adobe.com
This involved commissioning a bat survey that revealed one solitary creature who visits the roof space regularly – a brown long-eared bat that feeds on moths, beetles, flies, earwigs and spiders.
It does not nest in the building’s roof, but flies in and out, so as long as the bat’s access is maintained the Bircham Centre has permission to continue with the work that needs to be done.
With the approach of Halloween the charity has launched an October “Name our Batty Bat” competition.
Entries can be submitted via Facebook or Instagram, by email or by filling in one of the forms in the porch.
The winner and the chosen name will be announced in November.
The centre is also running a children’s Bircham Bat picture competition: anyone under 16 is invited to come up with a picture of the Bircham Centre bat and drop it in at the charity shop before 1 November.
Entries will be shared on social media and there will be small prizes for the best pictures.
Please put your name, your age, your suggested name for the bat and a contact telephone number on the back of the picture.
The bat licence survey and report cost around £2,000, which has added to the cost of the Raise the Roof project.
The Bircham Centre is continuing to fundraise through sponsorships, donations and events; the JustGiving page will remain open for the time being.
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