On January 27, 2026, two Second World War pillboxes in Cheshunt Park, Hertfordshire, are providing a safe place for local bats to spend the winter. The concrete lookouts, which were built around 1940 to defend the area during the war, have been converted into secure shelters to protect wildlife and preserve local history.
The Broxbourne Borough Council led the project to turn the old fortifications into winter homes. Workers installed heavy steel grilles over the openings and added special bricks with narrow gaps, which allow bats to crawl inside to sleep while keeping the public out.
According to the Bat Conservation Trust, the thick walls of the pillboxes keep the temperature inside steady and cool, which mimics the natural caves that bats usually use for hibernation. Local species such as the Pipistrelle and the Natterer’s bat are expected to use these spaces to stay safe from the cold and predators.
Visitors to the 235-acre Cheshunt Park can see the historic structures from the outside while using the park’s walking trails and wildflower meadows.
The project has helped to stop the old military buildings from being damaged by vandals or filled with litter. By giving the pillboxes a new purpose, the council is able to maintain the community’s wartime heritage while supporting the local environment.
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