It may be a bit of a strange sight: a replica of the gabled roof is being made on the lawn in front of the primary school in Eext. The replica roof will soon be placed on the gymnasium next to the school. The replica should attract bats from the school.
Prins Willem Alexander primary school is outdated and must make way for new construction, but the vacant building cannot be demolished for the time being because of those bats. Bats are protected and must not be disturbed or captured.
Bats often live in buildings that are being demolished. Usually it is enough to build special bat boxes, where the animals then fly. The bats in Eext are apparently very attached to the school, because they hardly use the hives. This is a breeding colony of late flyers. Bat boxes are less suitable for that species.
The municipality of Aa en Hunze therefore decided on a perhaps somewhat unorthodox method: replicating the roof of the school. The intention is that the animals will soon move on their own. Installation of the roof structure has now started in Eext. The bat roof will be further constructed on the gymnasium in the coming weeks.
The new school would cost 2.5 million euros. The special bat intervention – including the research that preceded it – will cost the municipality an additional 195,000 euros. School umbrella organization Primah, which includes the primary school, actually expected a move this year.
The school is scheduled to be demolished in the latter part of this year. The new construction is planned for early next year. The new building must be completed a year later. In the meantime, the children are taught emergency units.
