RSPB Arne

The popular RSPB reserve at Arne lacked facilities for an ever increasing number of visitors. Rather than building on the reserve (a registered Site of Specialist Scientific Interest), the RSPB bought a dilapidated Toy Museum nearby and achieved Planning Permission to convert it to a visitor centre.

We greatly improved the environmental standard of the existing building, which needed extensive repairs and was poorly insulated. The whole building is heated by a Biomass boiler, insulated externally and rendered to improve thermal performance and appearance.

We not only created a cafe, shop and toilets for visitors but also provided access and roosting space for the common pipistrelle, soprano pipistrelle and brown long eared bats living within the roof void.

The builders were Hammond Building Contractors.

Landscaping was designed by The Landscape Practice.

Mechanical and Electrical Services were by Martin Thomas Associates.

The Arne reserve is a wonderful place to visit, for bird watching, to see other wildlife, or just walk in beautiful countryside. Further information is available on the RSPB website.