Use of Bird Netting on Council Buildings (Past 5 Years)
Case reference FOI2025/01197
Received 13 November 2025
Published 18 November 2025
Request
Please provide the following information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, covering the past five years (2019–2024) or as many years as data is available:
1.Buildings:
- Number of council-owned/managed buildings with bird netting installed.
2.Bird Deaths & Trapped Birds:
- Number of dead birds found in netting each year.
- Number of birds trapped in netting each year, broken down by species if recorded.
- How many trapped birds were dead vs rescued alive.
- For any birds found alive: what happened to them (e.g., released, taken to vet/rescue, handed to contractor, culled).
3.Inspections & Maintenance:
- How often netting is inspected, repaired or replaced.
- How many reports of trapped birds the council receives each year.
- How often the council checks netting to ensure it is not harming birds.
4.Rationale & Alternatives:
- Reasons for using bird netting on council buildings.
- Whether alternatives were considered, and if so, which.
5.Costs:
- Annual spending on installation, maintenance, and repair of bird netting.
Response
Further to your FOI enquiry we comment as follows for the period 2019-2024:
1.Buildings:
Q: Number of council-owned/managed buildings with bird netting installed. A: One
2.Bird Deaths & Trapped Birds:
Q: Number of dead birds found in netting each year. A: None
Q: Number of birds trapped in netting each year, broken down by species if recorded. A: No information Held
Q: How many trapped birds were dead vs rescued alive. A: No information Held
Q: For any birds found alive: what happened to them (e.g., released, taken to vet/rescue, handed to contractor, culled). A: No information Held
3.Inspections & Maintenance:
Q: How often netting is inspected, repaired or replaced. A: Monthly
Q: How many reports of trapped birds the council receives each year. A: None that Tunbridge Wells Borough Council are aware of
Q: How often the council checks netting to ensure it is not harming birds. A: Monthly checks are undertaken looking for any breaks
4.Rationale & Alternatives:
Q: Reasons for using bird netting on council buildings. A: To keep birds out of an open fire escape
Q: Whether alternatives were considered, and if so, which. A: Static devices were in place prior to netting being installed, bird of prey.
5.Costs:
Q: Annual spending on installation, maintenance, and repair of bird netting. A: None
Documents
This is Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.