Lighting the Night, Protecting the Wild

Artificial lighting has transformed our night-time environments – improving safety, extending activity hours, and enhancing aesthetics in outdoor spaces. But as our towns and cities grow brighter, a lesser-known cost is emerging: disruption to nocturnal wildlife, especially bats. In the UK, bats play a critical role in insect control and biodiversity, yet their survival is increasingly threatened by excessive and poorly designed lighting.

As lighting designers, specifiers, and consultants, it’s essential to understand how bat friendly lighting can protect sensitive ecosystems while still meeting functional and aesthetic requirements. This article explores the ecological impact of light pollution, outlines best practices for wildlife friendly lighting, and shows how Connected Light delivers smarter, low-impact lighting for even the most sensitive environments – including heritage and listed buildings.

Why Bats and Lighting in the UK Are a Concern

The UK is home to 18 species of bats – 17 of which breed here – making them an integral part of our native ecosystem. As nocturnal animals, bats depend on darkness to forage, navigate, and avoid predators. But with increasing development and the spread of artificial lighting into rural and suburban areas, their habitats are under constant threat.

The issue of bats and lighting in the UK is now well documented. According to the Bat Conservation Trust, artificial light falling near roosts or commuting corridors can delay emergence, reduce foraging time, or even lead to complete roost abandonment. For slower-flying species like lesser horseshoes and Myotis bats, lit areas become barriers, fragmenting feeding grounds and reducing their ability to survive.

“You can’t retrofit biodiversity. Once the habitat is disrupted, it’s often gone for good. That’s why low-impact, ecologically sensitive lighting should be considered at the very start of any outdoor project,” says Matt Holway, Director at Connected Light.

Legally, all UK bat species and their roosts are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010. Any outdoor lighting design near known or potential roosting sites must comply – both ethically and lawfully.

The Impact of Artificial Light on Bats

The growth of Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) has been dramatic – rising by nearly 50% in the past three decades. While the benefits of well-designed exterior lighting are clear, its ecological downsides are becoming harder to ignore. Bats are particularly sensitive, and the effects of inappropriate lighting can be severe.

Exposure to artificial lighting interferes with natural activity cycles. It delays emergence from roosts, shortens foraging periods, and increases the risk of predation. Some species avoid lit areas altogether, forcing them into poorer quality habitats. Even faster species like pipistrelles may be lured to streetlights where insects gather – only to become easier targets for birds of prey.

The science is clear. A 2021 study in ScienceDirect found that short-wavelength light, particularly blue and white LEDs, can significantly reduce bat activity. By contrast, amber or warm-white light (below 2700K) has a far less disruptive effect – making it a central consideration in bat friendly lighting strategies.

These findings reinforce the importance of low impact lighting design – where the right spectrum, intensity, timing, and direction of light are used to minimise ecological disturbance. It’s not about switching off entirely; it’s about lighting with care and intent.

Designing with Bats in Mind: Practical Considerations

Whether you’re lighting a park trail, a car park, or the exterior of a listed building, thoughtful design can make a measurable difference. Here are five key ways to reduce impact while still achieving your lighting goals:

1. Light only where needed – Avoid blanket illumination. Every additional light source introduces ecological risk, so lighting schemes should be carefully scoped to focus only on required paths, entrances, and gathering areas. Using cut-off optics or shielded luminaires ensures the beam is directed precisely where it’s needed – reducing waste and preventing unintended consequences for wildlife.
2. Use warm or amber tones – Not all light is equal. LEDs with a correlated colour temperature (CCT) of 2700K or lower are significantly less disruptive to nocturnal wildlife, including bats. These warmer hues are less likely to interfere with natural foraging or commuting behaviour and are now widely available in street and architectural lighting products designed for low impact lighting schemes.
3. Minimise light spill – Light trespass into dark corridors, hedgerows, watercourses or tree canopies can fragment habitat and reduce foraging areas. Beam angles, mounting height, and luminaire selection should all be chosen to tightly control spread. Spill shields or louvres can help in situations where physical layout makes aiming more challenging.
4. Smart control systems – Reducing intensity and operating time is just as important as spectrum. Incorporating presence detection, timers, dimmers, or astronomical clocks ensures light is only present when truly needed. This limits ecological disturbance during peak bat activity (typically 30 minutes after sunset through to the early hours).
5. Collaborate early – If bat populations are suspected or confirmed on site, bring in ecological consultants early in the planning process. Understanding roost locations, foraging grounds, and commuting routes helps inform a truly bat friendly lighting layout – one that meets both environmental and operational needs.

For real-world examples of sensitive lighting in action, visit our project portfolio

Balancing Function and Ecology in Outdoor Lighting

It’s a common misconception that sustainable lighting comes at the expense of performance. In reality, well-designed bat friendly lighting can meet both ecological and functional needs – particularly when expert guidance is applied from the outset.

At Connected Light, we don’t treat conservation as a constraint. We see it as part of responsible design. Whether you’re illuminating a heritage estate, upgrading a civic space, or designing for planning compliance, it’s possible to achieve high-quality results that also respect the natural environment.

“Some of our best projects have been the most challenging. When you’re lighting around protected species or in designated landscapes, you’re forced to think creatively – and that’s where great design happens,” says Matt Holway, Director at Connected Light.

A notable example includes the Two Tunnels Greenway near Bath – a sensitive heritage and ecology-led scheme involving extensive underground cycle and pedestrian routes. The project, delivered by Connected Light, involved detailed planning to reduce disruption to bat populations within the tunnels and surrounding environment – proving that elegant, safe lighting and wildlife protection can go hand in hand.

Learn more about our values and team on the About Us page.

Get Support with Bat Friendly Lighting Design

From listed buildings to rural developments, bat friendly lighting is no longer just a “nice to have” – it’s an essential part of modern, sustainable design. Whether you’re navigating planning conditions, working in ecologically sensitive zones, or responding to client concerns about biodiversity, early engagement with the right specialists is key.

Connected Light supports lighting designers, M&E consultants, contractors, and architects with end-to-end guidance on ecologically responsible schemes. Our team can advise on spectrum, controls, fixture selection, and lighting layouts that comply with legislation and best practice – all while enhancing the usability and appearance of your site

If you’re working on a project where wildlife friendly lighting is a factor, don’t leave it to chance. Contact us to ensure your lighting meets both environmental and performance objectives.

Connected Light is proud to announce its certification to ISO 9001 – the internationally recognised standard for quality management. This achievement reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to excellence, professionalism, and continual improvement across all areas of operation.

To reach this milestone, the Connected Light team developed and implemented a brand-new quality management system, tailored specifically to support the company’s internal processes and high service standards. Unlike the previous system, this new approach is now fully UKAS accredited – providing added assurance for clients, partners, and project stakeholders.

Director Matt Holway commented:
“Achieving ISO 9001 certification demonstrates our continued drive to deliver best-in-class lighting control solutions. We’ve worked hard to create a management system that genuinely supports how we work – not just a box-ticking exercise, but a meaningful framework that helps us improve, stay compliant, and add value for our clients.”

This certification would not have been possible without the expert support of Andy Young from SQE Solutions, an independent consultancy specialising in Health & Safety, Quality, and Environmental compliance. Andy played a pivotal role in guiding the Connected Light team through the development of the new system, from gap analysis through to implementation.

Audit and certification were successfully delivered by ACT (A Cube TIC), who conducted both the Stage 1 and Stage 2 assessments and formally certified Connected Light to ISO 9001.

“We’d like to extend our thanks to Andy and the team at ACT for their professionalism and support throughout this process,” added Holway. “This accreditation is an important step in our growth, and we’re excited to build on this as we continue working across high-profile projects nationwide.”

Connected Light provides intelligent lighting control solutions across commercial, industrial, education, heritage, and specialist sectors. Learn more at connectedlight.co.uk.

Bristol, UK – 2nd April 2025 – Connected Light, a UK-based specialist in smart lighting controls, is pleased to announce its appointment as an official Value-Added Reseller (VAR) for Casambi, the leading wireless lighting control platform.

This strategic partnership enhances Connected Light’s ability to deliver robust, scalable lighting control solutions that leverage Casambi’s innovative wireless technology. With this collaboration, Connected Light will offer clients across commercial, heritage, hospitality and public sectors greater flexibility, efficiency and design freedom in lighting control.

“Casambi has been a key part of the evolution of wireless lighting control, and we’re thrilled to formalise our relationship with them,” said Matt Holway, Managing Director at Connected Light. “This partnership gives us the tools to offer our clients even greater flexibility and performance across a wide range of applications. We’re excited about the opportunities this brings to our customers and to the wider industry.”

Casambi welcomed the partnership as part of its continued expansion in the UK market.
Mark Needham, VP of Sales EMEA at Casambi, commented: “Connected Light brings strong regional expertise that enhances our UK presence, particularly in the South West. Their addition complements our existing network of highly valued VARs and further strengthens Casambi’s reach and capability.”

Connected Light’s track record in delivering intelligent lighting systems and expert consultancy makes it a trusted partner for building owners, designers, and contractors looking to integrate wireless lighting control. As a Casambi VAR, the company will provide end-to-end support for projects, from stocking the wide range of Casambi products and Eco System products, design and commissioning through to aftercare.

For more information about Connected Light’s services and Casambi-enabled solutions, visit:
www.connectedlight.co.uk

Media Contact:
sales@connectedlight.co.uk
+44 (0)117 972 0030

Connected Light are proud to announce they are now BAFE SP203-4 certificated as an Emergency Lighting System Service Provider (to deliver Design and Handover/Commissioning services).  This is an exciting update and a further indication of our commitment to health and safety standards as we continue to seek ways in which to enhance the specialist services we offer.

Please click on the link for more information on why you should use BAFE to certify your building.

For many of us, we see the new year as providing an array of opportunities. Whether you’re simply looking forward to a fresh start or are working hard on a new year’s resolution (we believe in you!), it’s a chance to make big changes.

While lighting may not be at the forefront of your mind in the post-Christmas haze, we think it’s a great opportunity to think about what can be done to transform your spaces through lighting, to undoubtedly make things better and brighter for you, your staff, and your visitors.

With this in mind, here’s a few points that explain how reimagined lighting can enhance your space.

• Improve energy efficiency and start saving. You likely want to save some money this year, and an inefficient lighting system can cause all manner of financial problems. Older lighting usually requires more energy to run and greater maintenance, which of course increases your bills, while also being worse for the environment- siphoning away more energy for less light output than their modern counterparts.
• Enhance experiences. It’s sometimes difficult to imagine how important lighting is to wellbeing, productivity and day-to-day life. Surely, as long as a space is lit, this is enough? Not quite. In an age of spending extensive amounts of time indoors and increased screen exposure, clean and appropriate lighting is vital.
• Customise your control. As well as improving general fittings and aesthetics, the way in which you use lighting can be completely revolutionised. From a simple motion sensor to only turn lights on when people are present, to controlling lights in your building from your mobile phone, you can change how you work with lights- and how they work with you.
• Combine it with other useful components. Want your lights to double as asset trackers? To check the air quality? To monitor your energy usage? The right lighting system can offer much to help improve and understand your spaces, far beyond the brightening benefits.
• Improve safety and your compliance. Every commercial building in the UK must have safe and legally adequate lighting. This includes battery back-up mains lighting to enable safe egress from the building in the event of a power failure. However, an effectively designed lighting system can go above and beyond this, by having extra features that show your commitment to your workforce and compliance to health and safety laws.

If you’re interested to start the year looking into the unique upgrades which can be made to your space, why not get in touch? Reach us on 0117 972 0030 or drop us an email at sales@connectedlight.co.uk.

When it comes to efficient, sustainable lighting, unlocking the capital to deliver modern solutions can be a real challenge for many organisations.

In today’s cut and thrust business environment, both ROI and payback on lighting schemes have to really hit the mark, and combined with the best financing options can make a compelling case for elements like LEDs or advanced control options.

Salix represents one highly attractive pathway; but what exactly does the Salix financing suite have to offer?

As much as we at Connected Light are passionate about lighting and its role in everybody’s lives, we know that lighting isn’t always at the top of everyone else’s thoughts.

Perhaps your office lighting was installed many years ago, or you’re not sure what products exist to make a difference to what you already have. But lighting is one of the most important aspects of an office to enable businesses and their staff to be able to work safely and effectively- and offices should always be designed with both compliance and comfort in mind.

With lighting also accounting for around 20% of a commercial building’s electricity usage, it is always a good time to review your lighting needs.

Here are 7 reasons that you might need new lighting in your office.