Roofs for wildlife

House martin at nest in barn

House sparrows, starlings, house martins and swifts depend on buildings for nest sites. The last two species are almost completely dependent on them. Roofs are also important habitats for roosting bats.

Opportunities for birds to share your house are greatest in older properties. Modern building techniques and renovation materials can prevent their access, unless you provide specific opportunities.

Our top five tips

There are five steps for safeguarding existing nest sites or creating new ones in your roof:

Where possible, leave existing nest holes alone and work around them when carrying out repairs and renovations.
If this isn't possible, fit an internal nest box behind the replacement material. Position the box and make a hole in the new material at the same location as the original nest site.
Create new sites by making appropriately sized holes in the existing fascias and soffits.
Utilise the existing roof or fascia design to create new nest sites.
Fit internal nest boxes in new builds or extensions.
If none of the above are possible, use externally fitted nest boxes.

Protecting nest sites in roofs

Considering renovations? You can help the birds that may be nesting in your roof by protecting existing nest sites. More...

Farmhouse Meeting Rooms at the RSPB Old Moor nature reserve

Nestboxes for the roof

If you're in the process of purchasing or building a new house or extension, ask either the developer or builder to fit internal nestboxes for swifts, house sparrows or starlings into the design of the building. You could also fit external nextboxes. More...

How to attract house martins

You may be lucky and have house martins nesting on your house already. If not, you can try to attract them by making your own artificial house martin nest. More...

Green roofs

Green roofs have been used extensively on the continent for some time and are now becoming more popular in the UK. Mosses and lichens will grow naturally on most roofs, but a green roof is intentionally designed to support vegetation. More...

What can I do?

Take part in 'Homes for Wildlife' and we'll provide you with all the advice you'll need to attract birds and other wildlife to your garden.

Transform your garden into a wildlife haven