Martin Cant making the bat boxes which were bought by his colleagues at EDF Energy Networks in Ipswich
05 July 2010
Green-thinking energy workers are today helping Suffolk Wildlife Trust by giving bats the chance to set up home.
EDF Energy Networks staff based at Fore Hamlet in Ipswich, held a silent auction to buy 11 bat boxes as part of their Green Britain Day activities.
Green Britain Day last month (June) was a day of celebration for Team Green Britain, a growing movement of hundreds of thousands of people and groups brought together by EDF Energy, through a shared commitment to lowering Britain’s carbon footprint. Through working with London 2012, the Eden Project, Global Action Plan and Eco-Schools, a summer of activities has been planned to inspire people to live a greener lifestyle.
The bat boxes were made by Martin Cant, a business operations team manager at Fore Hamlet. He spent about two weeks making the boxes to several different designs and also put together kits for people to make their own if they preferred.
He added: “The idea was great in that you see a lot of bird boxes about but not a lot of bat boxes. We made it clear to the people who bought them that they needed to read the literature on where they should site them. There was a lot of interest and I certainly enjoyed making them.”
The auction also raised about £70 for Suffolk Wildlife Trust.
Other events held on site during Green Britain Day on June 17 included employees riding an exercise bike for a minute each to see how far they could travel during break times, which turned out to be 33 miles, as well as raffles and a ‘guess the name of the chicken’ competition.
About £215 was raised during the day with £150 being given to environmental charity Global Action Plan, one of EDF Energy’s chosen charities for the year.
Audrey Boyle from Suffolk Wildlife Trust said: “We are delighted that EDF Energy Networks has chosen to donate money from the sale of bat boxes to the Trust.
“Donations from both individuals and business are invested into securing and caring for Suffolk’s wildlife and its habitats. Bats are one of our most threatened mammals and need all the help they can get!
“By putting up a simple bat box you can provide roost sites vital for hibernation and raising young, especially in areas where their natural habitat – old hollow trees, hedgerows and ponds - have disappeared.
“Erecting a bat box can encourage these delightful creatures to your garden where they can chomp their way through around 3,000 mosquitoes and other insects each evening!”
ENDS
For further information, contact Tracey Sparling in the EDF Energy press office on 08701 962504.
Notes to editors:
EDF Energy is one of the UK’s largest energy companies, producing around one-fifth of the nation's electricity from its nuclear, coal and gas power stations, as well as combined heat and power plants and wind farms. The company provides power to a quarter of the UK’s population via its electricity distribution networks and supplies gas and electricity to more than 5.5 million business and residential customers. It is the number one supplier of electricity to major business in the UK.
EDF Energy’s safe and secure operation of its eight existing nuclear power stations at sites across the country makes it the UK’s largest generator of low carbon electricity. EDF Energy is also leading the UK's nuclear renaissance and has published plans to build four new nuclear reactors, subject to the right investment framework. These new plants would generate enough low carbon electricity for about 40% of Britain’s homes. They would make an important contribution to the UK’s future needs for clean, secure and affordable energy. The project is already creating business and job opportunities for British companies and workers.
Through Our Climate and Social Commitments EDF Energy has launched the biggest environmental and social programme of any UK energy company. EDF is the official energy utilities partner and sustainability partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The company is also helping its customers and others use energy more sustainably through products and initiatives such as Read, Reduce, Reward and Team Green Britain.
EDF Energy is part of EDF Group, one of Europe’s largest power companies. Following the integration with British Energy in 2009, the company employs nearly 20,000 people at locations across the UK.