Crowthorne is not a typical dense suburban town. It sits right on the edge of some of the most significant woodland in Berkshire, with Crowthorne Wood, Swinley Forest and the wider heathland around Nine Mile Ride forming a green backdrop to many streets. That setting is one of the reasons people love living here, but it is also exactly the kind of environment that supports a large, healthy population of grey squirrels, and it explains why we deal with so many roof-space squirrel calls in this particular part of Bracknell Forest.
A landscape built for grey squirrels
Grey squirrels thrive where mature broadleaf and mixed woodland meets residential gardens, because it gives them a constant, varied food supply and plenty of tree cover to move around unseen. Crowthorne's mix of woodland, mature gardens around Wellington College and the older residential roads close to the forest edge gives squirrels exactly that kind of habitat, and a roof space is simply the next logical shelter once a squirrel is already living in the trees around your garden.
Why roof spaces specifically attract them
- Loft spaces offer warmth, dryness and shelter from predators and weather
- Roof voids are quiet and undisturbed for most of the day, ideal for a nesting female
- Insulation makes excellent nesting material once a squirrel gains entry
- Older roofline timber, soffits and fascias in established properties are more prone to gaps and rot, giving easier access
- A loft close to overhanging branches or a garage roof gives squirrels a direct route in without ever touching the ground
Seasonal pressure adds to the problem
Grey squirrels typically breed twice a year, and when young squirrels become independent they need to find their own territory. In a town surrounded by established woodland like Crowthorne, that dispersal pressure regularly pushes squirrels into residential roof spaces, particularly in late winter and again in summer, because the trees are already at capacity and a warm loft is an easy alternative.
Older properties near mature trees are particularly exposed
We see a clear pattern across Crowthorne: properties with mature trees close to the roofline, or with soffits and fascias that have not been checked or maintained in some years, are far more likely to get a squirrel in the loft than a newer build with well-sealed rooflines set back from tree cover. If your home fits that description, it is worth being proactive rather than waiting for the first scratching noise.
If you live in or around Crowthorne and are concerned your property's setting close to woodland is putting your roof space at risk, Pest Services Berkshire can inspect your roofline, identify vulnerable points, and advise on proofing before squirrels move in. Get in touch for a free quotation.
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