From Recycling to Record Sales: Celebrating Our 2025 Highlights Thursday 8th January 2026
As we look back on 2025, we’re proud to reflect on a year filled with progress, learning and plenty of positive impact — not just for our customers, but for our team, our community and the environment too. From sustainability wins to customer favourites, here’s a snapshot of what made 2025 such a memorable year for Insight Security.
Recycling That Really Adds Up
Insight Security is highly committed to minimising the impact our business has on the environment. We continuously examine and review all our operations, making positive changes to minimise our environmental impact.
In 2025, we spent £0 on void fill packaging for outgoing orders. How? By recycling 100% of our cardboard and repurposing it using our dunnage shredder machine. It?s a simple idea with a big impact, reducing waste while keeping products well protected in transit.
Smarter Energy Use
While solar panels aren?t an option at our head office site, we still made strong progress towards greener operations throughout 2025. 35% of the energy we consumed came from renewable sources, helping us reduce our environmental footprint. Sensible environmental practices will continue to be of primary importance as we progress into 2026.
Greener Commutes
Around 48% of UK commuters drive to work alone with average yearly commuter mileages of around 4,800 to 5,000 miles per driver. Reducing the number of solo commutes via car sharing significantly lowers the total energy use and emissions.
While the commute distances of many Insight Security staff are relatively short, thanks to car sharing across the Insight Security team, we saved 6,600 miles of car journeys in 2025. This is a great example of how small daily choices can make a real difference that?s worth celebrating.
Giving Back to Our Community
Although the Insight Security customer base is global we recognise and value our local community relationships. Establishing and maintaining partnerships, along with supporting local causes, is important to us. In 2025, we donated over £2,000 to local charities, helping them continue the valuable work they do in our community.
A Truly Global Customer Base
We are very proud of our growing, diverse worldwide customer base. Throughout 2025 we shipped high quality products to customers in 25 different countries around the world, helping people stay safe and secure wherever they are. Along the way, we sharpened our knowledge of international trade regulations, reminding us just how important it is to stay informed in an ever-changing global commercial landscape.
Customer Feedback We?re Proud Of
Online customer feedback is vitally important as it builds trust, demonstrates professionalism, highlights opportunities for improvement and provides transparency.
We are immensely proud that our customers continued to rate us highly, with a Google Customer Feedback Score of 4.9 out of 5, for 2025. We are very grateful to everyone who took the time to leave a review as your feedback drives everything we do.
Investing in Our Team
The pace of change in technology, regulation, customer expectations and working practices has clearly accelerated. Businesses that don?t actively develop the skills of their personnel will inevitably fall behind which is why Insight Security prioritises staff development. During 2025 our team spent over 100 hours on training and development, ensuring we?re always ready to provide accurate, actionable expert advice and the best possible service.
Customers know that the carefully curated portfolio of high quality security and safety products in our store are all thoroughly vetted and considerately selected for efficacy and value for money. A few of our most popular ?star? product lines in 2025 included the following:
We sold enough anti-climb paint to coat an entire Olympic swimming pool. Anti climb paint is a very effective, easily applied anti climb solution that?s widely used to protect a variety of sites including churches, community halls and stately homes.
The most popular anti-climb Prikla Strip colour of 2025 was brown. Easily installed plastic Prikla Strip anti climb spikes provide a cheap and easy way to deter intruders from climbing into gardens or onto rooftops. Designed to cause discomfort without causing any harm these spike strips are ideal for homes and businesses.
During 2025, we sold so much Bird Free Fire Gel, it would stretch from our office in Lewes all the way to Isfield in East Sussex. People are becoming increasingly aware of how effective this totally harmless anti-bird gel is in safely repelling pest birds such as pigeons and seagulls.
We offer a wide range of padlocks for every possible application and budget. Over the past year the excellent Squire Stronghold SS50S open shackle padlock has been a firm favourite. This CEN4 rated lock features anti-drill protection, a solid hardened steel body along with a hardened boron alloy steel shackle and has an electrophoretic anti-corrosion finish. It uses a 6 pin lock cylinder with over 250,000 key differs making it ideal for a wide range of high security applications.
Another of our primary security product lines is our extensive range of high-security chains. During 2025 the most popular high-security chain has been the Pragmasis Protector 19mm at 2m in length. This incredibly tough chain has achieved Sold Secure Gold rating in all categories making it popular for securing motorcycles, ATVs, caravans, plant machinery and much more. Customers regularly submit favourable feedback about how tough this incredible security chain is.
We offer a range of excellent door security and safety products that are widely used in homes, schools and businesses. Our Finger Protector Hinge Cavity Cover Strips have prevented many people, especially youngsters, from suffering significant injury through getting their fingers trapped between doors and door-frames. Over 2025 we helped make over 1000 doors far safer.
A significant part of our business is the wide range of high quality nuts, bolts, screws and security fastenings we offer from our store. Over 2025 we sold over one million of these nuts, bolts and screws for use in a wide range of applications. These small components often play the biggest role in ensuring security and safety.
Sharing Knowledge
Here at Insight Security we know how important it is to have accurate, reliable information and guidance, provided in easily digested formats. That?s why we have continued to publish helpful, informative blog posts every week, covering everything from AI to outbuilding security. We?ve also produced over 25 helpful videos during 2025, providing viewers with clear, practical product guidance that answers many of the questions people often ask and expanding our growing library of over 80 useful videos.
Powered by Coffee
Last but not least, our busy team quaffed 7,500 cups of coffee over the year, highlighting the importance of both dedication and caffeine.
Looking Ahead to 2026
2025 Has been a successful year of growth, change, innovation and impact. We are excited and optimistic to build on this momentum in the year ahead and want to extend our warmest thanks to all our customers, suppliers and partners, along with our hard-working team, for being part of our successful journey. We?re looking forward to a safer, more secure, sustainable future that we can achieve together in 2026.
If you have any questions about your security needs, or if you have any special requirements, remember we are here to help. Give us a call on 01273 475500 and we?ll provide you with free, expert advice.
This message was added on Thursday 8th January 2026
Bird Free Fire Gel Repellent Still Effective After 10 Years Thursday 1st May 2025
The sunny spring weather means many of us have been spending more time outdoors. But sadly, our outdoor spaces are often plagued by problematic birds and the mess they cause. In our latest post we look at how Bird Free Fire Gel is an effective, humane way to keep those birds at bay.
Feral birds, especially pigeons and seagulls, can cause a wide range of problems, particularly in urban areas. Springtime is when many birds build their nests and raise their young, so if they have chosen your rooftop or property as their nesting site you can face problems in getting rid of them. Its important to remember that in the UK all wild birds are protected by law and cannot be interfered with, except under licence. But it is possible to keep birds away using non-lethal bird control methods.
Restricting access to food is a primary recommendation. Birds will often establish their homes where food is readily available so the proximity of accessible rubbish bins, for example, can attract problematic birds. The video above demonstrates how a huge number of feral pigeons would congregate on a rooftop adjacent to an area where they were regularly fed.
Physical barriers, including anti bird netting, are often used to prevent birds from landing, roosting and building nests where they are not wanted. And making areas less attractive to birds by deploying anti-bird spikes, or using various bird scaring devices, can also have some positive impact. But Bird Free Fire Gel is increasingly recognised as the most reliable and effective way to humanely keep birds away from wherever they aren?t welcome.
Feral birds and their nests can, as noted, cause a wide range of often very serious problems and risks. Here are some examples that should be noted.
Structural Damage Caused by Birds
Bird droppings are highly acidic. Acidic bird mess can cause serious corrosion to building materials including concrete, brickwork, stone and metal. If flocks of birds are regularly congregating in a specific area the mess they create quickly accumulates and is likely to cause damage that can be very expensive to repair.
Bird nests and detritus is also a well known cause of blocked drainage gutters. When these vital systems become blocked, rainwater can cause significant water damage, damp and even more costly repairs. And when birds build their nests on rooftops they can sometimes displace roof tiles and slates.
Health Risks from Bird Droppings and Nests
Bird droppings are well known to carry harmful bacteria and fungi. The last thing you want, anywhere near outdoor eating areas, is an accumulation of bird droppings or bird nests.
Histoplasmosis, for example, is a fungal infection caused by inhaling spores from bird droppings, leading to respiratory issues. In severe cases this can be fatal. In the USA a construction worker, exposed to accumulated pigeon droppings when cleaning an old building, inhaled dust from dried bird excrement, contaminated with Histoplasma Capsulatum spores. The serious infection spread from his lungs to other organs and the poor man died.
Cryptococcosis is another fungal disease affecting the lungs and nervous system, linked to bird droppings. A number of pigeon breeders are reported to have developed cryptococcosis, leading to lung infections and meningitis, after handling pigeon nests and droppings. And a homeless man, sleeping near a pigeon-infested bridge, died from cryptococcal meningitis after inhaling spores from dried pigeon droppings.
Psittacosis (Ornithosis) is a bacterial infection causing pneumonia-like symptoms, spread through dried bird droppings and dust. In the UK, a family of four became ill after removing a seagull nest from their roof. Blood tests confirmed psittacosis, traced to inhaled dust from dried seagull faeces.
Salmonella bacteria in bird droppings can contaminate food and water sources, leading to food poisoning. In Lancashire, more than 300 people became ill with Salmonella gastroenteritis due to seagull droppings in a reservoir of drinking water.
E.coli and other pathogens exist in bird droppings which is why its essential to be aware of the risks associated with birds and the mess they create. Water testing at beaches in the UK discovered antibiotic-resistant E.coli strains matching those in seagull faeces. Swimming in contaminated water resulted in gastrointestinal illnesses.
Bird nests will also often harbour a number of parasites including mites, ticks and fleas. Nesting materials, dead birds along with leftover food will also attract rats and mice.
Vehicle and Property Damage
As noted, structural damage caused by acidic bird droppings can be very serious and expensive to repair. Those acidic bird droppings are also detrimental to vehicles, outdoor furniture and outbuildings. Droppings on cars, boats and furniture are likely to damage the finish if not cleaned away quickly. And bird droppings on solar panels is another problem as accumulation can adversely affect their efficiency and be expensive to clean off.
Fire Hazards Caused by Bird Nests
When examining the negative impact of bird mess and nests its important not to overlook the fire hazard caused by bird nests. Dry nesting materials are highly flammable and birds will sometimes build their nests in very risky locations. Lighting fixtures and electrical shop signage are particularly prone to attracting bird nests that can potentially catch fire. And there was a reported case in which a bird carried a lit cigarette back to its nest on a Stockwell building?s rooftop in London, causing a fire that required nine people to be evacuated.
Detrimental Business Impact
Droppings on pedestrian walkways, especially at entrances to businesses and railway stations, causes a significant slip hazard. As well as being dangerous, the appearance is highly detrimental to the business. Signage that?s streaked with bird mess looks very unattractive and doesn?t convey a positive business image.
Frightening and Aggressive Birds
When birds are nesting and protecting their young they can become aggressive toward both people and their pets. In Cornwall a postal worker suffered a significant head injury when an aggressive seagull attacked him on his delivery round. And in another serious case a seagull, snatching a sausage from a child?s hand, pecked off part of the toddler?s finger.
How to Deploy Bird Free Fire Gel to Keep Birds Away
Wherever birds are causing a problem Bird Free Fire Gel will keep them away. Balconies, for example, can attract unwanted birds that pollute these valuable spaces with their mess. Patios and outdoor seating and entertainment areas are also often polluted with dangerous bird droppings. Rooftops and solar panel arrays are also highly attractive to birds for roosting and nest-building. And shop signage, lighting and property entrances are also often subjected to unwanted bird attention.
Bird Free Fire Gel is a clever concoction of harmless, natural ingredients which emits ultraviolet light. While this UV light is invisible to humans, birds can see it. And to them, UV light resembles the appearance of fire, which they will naturally avoid.
The gel also contains peppermint oil which is another powerful bird deterrent. The immediate impact of Bird Free Gel deployment is apparent in the video at the top of this post. Dishes of this effective bird repellent were harmlessly distributed across this rooftop, where a large flock of feral pigeons would regularly congregate. The video clearly shows birds approaching the protected roof area, turning away as they perceive what appears to them to be flames.
Before Bird Free Fire Gel is installed its important to clean and prepare the installation site. This must be done with caution using appropriate cleaning materials and always while wearing sensible protective clothing, gloves and a face mask.
The wide variety of environments where pest birds can cause problems each present specific deployment challenges for Bird Free Fire Gel. The gel is contained in pre-loaded dishes that need to be placed and secured at regular intervals, spaced according to the density of the bird problem. Installation requirements for a sloping rooftop are clearly not the same as those required for a small balcony or patio. This is why we offer a range of versatile installation options.
Standard Bird Free Gel Dishes: These are simply fixed in place using a weatherproof silicone adhesive. This form of installation is typically used for rooftops and other areas that might be flat or sloping.
Magnetic Bird Free Gel Dishes:These dishes include magnets that enable the dishes to be quickly attached to any ferrous metal surface. This form of installation is particularly useful for a variety of environments including bridges, walkways and locations where bird mess can be dangerous for workers.
Railings and Pipework Pack:This installation format is the most popular. Dishes of Bird Free Fire Gel are attached to railings or pipework using cable ties that are affixed to the Bird Free Fire Gel dishes with self-adhesive pads. Anywhere birds like to congregate and roost can be immediately protected by attaching some dishes of Bird Free Fire Gel.
Roll Up Balcony Matt:In response to the needs of those with balconies and patios where birds are causing problems we came up with our popular roll up balcony matts. These are available in 4 or 8 dish options and each uses a collection of magnetic Bird Free Gel Dishes that stick to matts. These are conveniently rolled up and packed away when the area is in use and then quickly and easily re-deployed when needed.
Balconies, patios and other areas where Bird Free Fire Gel protection might be temporarily removed.
Bird Free Fire Gel Remains Effective for Many Years
Dishes of Bird Free Fire Gel are left outdoors, all year round, often in very grimy and weather-beaten locations. People naturally want to know how long it remains effective.
Bird Free Fire Gel is the only bird repellent gel fully authorised by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for use in the UK based on proven efficacy. Examination and data analysis has clearly demonstrated how this bird repellent will remain effective for a minimum period of 4 years.
Grime Covered Bird Free Fire Gel Dishes at Kings Cross Station
In fact, there are now many sites that have Bird Free Fire Gel installations that have provided total bird repellent control for more than 8 years. At Kings Cross Station in London, Bird Free Fire Gel was installed 10 years ago and although the dishes have become covered with airborne dust, the bird repellent is still effective today. Dishes of bird repellent gel were first deployed in April 2015 and when re-inspected in April 2025 it was confirmed that birds were still being kept away.
If you have any questions about effective bird repellent solutions, or if you have any special requirements, remember we are here to help. Give us a call on 01273 475500 and we?ll provide you with free, expert advice.
This message was added on Thursday 1st May 2025
Bird Free Spacing - 90 Second Insight Thursday 8th August 2024
In the next of our bite-size 90 Second Insight videos we look at how to effectively deploy dishes of our widely acclaimed Bird Free Fire Gel repellent.
Summer is the time of year when many of us want to make the most of the outdoors. Those who are lucky enough to have gardens and possibly patios, want to enjoy these valuable outdoor spaces. And people with balconies naturally want to sit outside and enjoy the cooling summer breeze. Unfortunately, our domestic outdoor spaces also attract unwanted birds such as seagulls and pigeons. Their nests, detritus and poop can harbour a wide range of harmful diseases along with parasites. And particles from dried bird droppings can cause respiratory complaints so people really want to keep troublesome birds away.
Public spaces, buildings and shops are also often plagued with unwanted, problem birds at this time of year. Mess from birds, roosting on signage above a shop entrance, can present a serious, slippery hazard to shoppers and make the shop signage look terrible. Railway stations are also often troubled by large groups of congregating pigeons, nesting and roosting in the rafters and polluting pedestrian walkways below.
Our Bird Free Fire Gel has now been in use, worldwide, for over 20 years. Many case studies have demonstrated its efficacy in all manner and size of installation, from domestic balconies to large scale roof tops, railway stations, educational establishments and industrial premises.
Totally Harmless
When considering any form of pest control its always important to examine the potential impact on humans and creatures that might come into contact with it. For example, BBC Springwatch recently highlighted how flea treatments, commonly used on cats and dogs, are poisoning our waterways and threatening the entire food web by killing off insects in vast quantities.
Bird Free Fire Gel is totally harmless to birds, animals and humans. Its a proprietary gel mixture that presents a 3-way bird deterrent.
The primary element is the pyranine in the gel, the same colouring agent used in highlighter pens. This clever ingredient fluoresces when exposed to UV radiation, causing the gel to emit ultraviolet light. To birds this light looks like a flickering, naked flame which prompts their natural response to stay away. This attribute is why the substance is known as ?Fire Gel?
The second way the gel deters birds is exploiting their smell and taste senses. Bird Free Fire Gel contains harmless peppermint oil, giving it a peppery aroma. Studies have shown how birds stay away from substances that emit peppery, menthol vapours.
And the third aspect of this effective formulation that birds don?t like is its viscous property. This can cause the gel to stick to their feathers, which they try to avoid.
Bird Free Gel is supplied in small, pre-loaded dishes that are just 8mm in height and 65mm diameter. These small, low level dishes allow the deterrent to be easily and unobtrusively deployed in all manner of installations, from large scale rooftops and bridges to individual window ledges.
There are now many installations of this highly effective bird deterrent all over the world. They range from small, domestic installations on balconies, patios and window ledges, to much larger scale, challenging installations at railway stations, hospitals and educational establishments.
Although our documentation highlights how the gel remains effective for over five years, feedback from live installations demonstrate how the gel has remained highly effective for over 8 years. And furthermore, it can withstand environments in which particulate air-borne pollution is very high, such as at railway stations. The UV bird repellent properties of the gel remain effective even when the gel is coated and blackened with pollution.
When considering the installation and deployment of Bird Free Fire Gel its beneficial to identify how the birds are using the area where the problem exists. Are they nesting there? Are they roosting there during the day time? Or are they roosting there at night? Or is the area used by birds for all three of these?
Optimum spacing of Bird Free Fire Gel dishes is important. This consideration determines how many dishes are needed for a particular area. Experience, accumulated over the past 20 years of worldwide use, has informed the determination of optimum dish spacing.
For nesting areas, dishes need to be relatively closely spaced at intervals of 15cm or 6 inches (centre to centre), in a grid pattern. This is the configuration found to be most effective in highly challenging installations where problem birds were regularly returning to nesting sites.
Night roosting areas can be considered to be medium pressure sites and dishes deployed in these spaces can be effectively installed at 20cm or 8 inch intervals.
Day roosting areas can be considered to be relatively low pressure sites and the dishes of Bird Free Fire Gel can be effectively spaced at 25cm or 10 inch intervals.
We understand the challenges involved in deploying multiple dishes of Bird Free Fire Gel which is why we supply these dishes in a number of useful formats. These include dishes that can be magnetically attached to ferrous metal structures, such as bridge and steel girders. Our cable-tied dishes are another popular option that enable Bird Free Fire Gel dishes to protect hand rails and pipework from unwanted roosting birds.
We?ve also developed our easy-to-use balcony protector pack that consists of a rubber matt with a number of pre-attached dishes of Bird Free Fire Gel. Birds respond immediately to the presence of Bird Free Fire Gel so our balcony protector pack is a quick and easy way to effectively chase them away from precisely where they are not wanted.
An important pre-installation requirement when deploying Bird Free Fire Gel dishes is the need to thoroughly clean and disinfect the area where birds have been a problem. This means cleaning away all previous nesting materials, dead bird carcasses and droppings. This must be carried out with caution while wearing appropriate protective clothing, goggles, facemasks and gloves.
Once the detritus and poop has been cleaned away the area needs to be disinfected to rid the site of any bird pheromones that might otherwise encourage them to return. See our Bird Free Fire Gel store page for everything you need.
How Many Dishes Are Needed?
When considering how many dishes of Bird Free Fire Gel are needed its simply a matter of assessing what the birds are using the site for, how big the area is and whether the dishes be fixed in place.
Our Balcony Protector Pack, for example, is purposely portable. This enables easy deployment to a balcony, patio or other area and allows the dishes to be picked up and taken indoors when the area is being used for relaxation and entertaining.
If the area is complex and involves steel girders and metal hand rails then the number of dishes required can be calculated based on the previously detailed spacing recommendations. For example, if birds tend to congregate and roost at night along long steel girders it would make sense to deploy dishes of Bird Free Fire Gel every 20cm or 8 inches.
For larger scale, flat areas such as rooftops, dishes should be deployed based on the previously detailed recommendations. If the area has been used for nesting then around 45 to 50 dishes per square metre will be needed.
Importantly, we understand how almost every bird deterrent challenge is unique. We have accumulated a vast wealth of knowledge and experience that enables us to devise effective bird deterrent strategies that will work in all situations. So we recommend you give us a call so that we can help determine exactly what?s needed.
Further Information and Guidance
Here are some useful links to where you can find further guidance and information on all aspects of Bird Free Fire Gel.
If you have any questions about effective bird repellents, or if you have any special requirements, remember we are here to help. Give us a call on 01273 475500 and we?ll provide you with free, expert advice.
This message was added on Thursday 8th August 2024
Bird Free Gel Remains Effective for Over 8 Years Thursday 4th April 2024
Our Bird Free Gel is growing in popularity as people discover its long-term efficacy and ease of use. Read our latest blog to learn how this incredible bird deterrent remains effective for more than 8 years.
Dealing with problem birds can be very challenging. Pest birds are attracted to locations where there is plenty of food along with safe and sheltered places to perch, build nests and raise their young. Pigeons and seagulls are at the top of the UK?s list of pest birds, but starlings, crows and even sparrows can also be problematic in some locations.
One of the main issues caused by unwanted pest birds congregating in a specific area is the mess and danger to health caused by their droppings. Most of us will have seen areas, heavily polluted with bird droppings, underneath ledges where birds like to perch. When wet, these accumulated bird droppings become very slippery and dangerous to walk on. And there are a number of nasty diseases associated with bird faeces including histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis and psittacosis. Bird droppings are also highly acidic which can cause damage to buildings if allowed to accumulate. And bird droppings discolour brickwork and make any affected signage look unsightly.
Bird Free Gel Remains Effective for Over 8 Years
Field trials carried out at a pigeon night-time roosting site showed how Bird Free Gel remained effective for over 4 years leading to the UK Health and Safety Executive acknowledging that ?Bird Free will remain effective for a minimum period of 4 years?. Numerous ongoing case studies in a wide variety of locations have now demonstrated that Bird Free Gel remains effective for over 8 years.
Pigeons Banished from Italy?s Largest Shopping Centre
Milan?s ?Il Centro? shopping centre had already attracted unwanted pigeons even before construction was complete. Their droppings were already fouling the extensive glass facades ahead of the grand opening scheduled to take place in April 2016. Bird Free Gel was deployed to the site in February 2016 and the problematic pigeons immediately moved on. The Bird Free Gel deterrent solution has remained effective ever since and none of the shopping centre?s tenant businesses have experienced any subsequent pigeon fouling issues.
Pigeon Nesting Prevented after Anti Bird Spikes had Failed
A Barcelona Hospital had attempted to use anti bird spikes to deter nesting pigeons. But the pesky birds had simply built their nests on top of the spikes and the hospital needed to invest in daily cleaning operations to deal with the mess they were making.
In May 2018 professional pest controllers removed all of the bird nests and ineffective anti bird spikes, replacing them with distributed dishes of Bird Free Gel. The result was immediate. The pigeons vacated the hospital rooftops and have never returned.
Pigeons Love to Perch and Poo on Shop Signage
Shop signage covered in bird droppings doesn?t convey a very positive impression to potential customers. And its not only shop signage that?s adversely impacted by unwanted pest birds. Signage at railway stations, hotels and public buildings can also be very attractive to pest birds looking for somewhere to perch and roost. But when these signs are streaked with bird mess they become very unsightly and the surfaces underneath these perches can become dangerous to walk on.
Many locations have tried traditional anti-bird techniques such as the installation of bird repellent spikes. But as previously noted, these are often very ineffective. Unlike anti-bird spikes dishes of Bird Free Gel are very inconspicuous as they are only 8mm high and often can?t be seen from ground level. These dishes are also far easier to deploy than anti-bird spikes that generally require screw fixing. Many shop signs now use discretely installed dishes of Bird Free Gel, reliably keeping unwanted birds away and ensuring both the signage and the street below remains free of bird mess. Some signage has even been specifically designed with recesses in the top to accommodate Bird Free Gel dishes.
Bird Free Gel - Ideal for Historic Buildings and Homes
Heritage sites and historic buildings appreciate how Bird Free Gel installation doesn?t require any mechanical fixings, unlike anti-bird spikes. Dishes of Bird Free Gel are easily distributed in areas where birds like to congregate and roost without the need for drilling or screw fixing. Our pipe and railing fixing option, for example, simply uses cable ties, enabling dishes to be securely attached to the pipes and railings where pest birds would previously have perched.
Pest Pigeons Ignoring Anti Bird Netting and Spikes
And many UK homes have successfully deployed dishes of Bird Free Gel along ledges, rooftops and other areas where birds had previously caused problems. These installations are continuing to keep pest birds away many years after initial installation. Our Balcony Protector Pack is particularly useful for home with balconies and patios plagued by pest birds.
No More Bird Mess on Parked Cars
Car park structures offer many sheltered areas, favoured by feral pigeons for roosting and nesting. Its not unusual for motorists to return to their vehicles, parked in municipal multi-story car parks, to find their cars covered in bird mess. Many car parks have now discovered the efficacy of Bird Free Gel which has been widely deployed ot keep unwanted birds away.
Bridge Walkways Polluted with Bird Mess
Bridge structures are another favoured location for roosting feral pigeons. The new Huntingdon Bypass, opened in December 2019, included four new bridges. But much like the shopping centre in Italy, even before these bridges were open the pest birds had moved in and established their nests. Their poop presented a health and safety risk for those responsible for routine bridge maintenance. The nests were cleared away and replaced with dishes of Bird Free Gel which was also deployed to other areas that might have attracted unwanted birds. The installation was immediately effective and continues to be effective today.
Distributed Dishes of Bird Free Gel - Keeping the Pigeons Away
Another Bridge installation, the Craigavon Bridge, carried out by the Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure, dealt with accumulating bird poop on the walkways which was causing a health and safety hazard to pedestrians and cyclists. This bridge is a listed structure which meant any anti-bird deterrent needed to be unobtrusive. In 2022 all areas of the bridge affected by pigeons was thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Deployment of unobtrusive Bird Free Gel dishes was immediately effective in keeping pest birds away and the walkways free from bird mess. The engineer in charge of the installation even witnessed the site being revisited by feral pigeons that immediately flew away when they encountered the Bird Free Gel.
Kings Cross Station Offices - Bird Free Since 2015
Way back in 2015 the droppings from pigeons roosting above Network Rail?s offices at Kings Cross station were causing unsightly and unpleasant fouling of the office entrance below. Dishes of Bird Free Gel were deployed and the site has been closely monitored ever since.
Bird Free Gel at Kings Cross Station - Dishes at the Front, Black with Pollution but Still Effective after 8 years.
After 8 years, since the initial installation, these dishes of gel are still keeping the unwanted pigeons away. Its notable that some of the exposed dishes have become significantly blackened by airborne pollution but they remain effective as the particulate pollution doesn?t inhibit or block the emission of UV light that repels the birds.
The most commonly asked questions about Bird Free Gel are these:
How long does it last?
As these ongoing installations and field trials have demonstrated, Bird Free Gel remains effective for more than 8 years. As noted, the UK Health and Safety Executive has acknowledged that ?Bird Free will remain effective for a minimum period of 4 years?. Real-world installations have demonstrated how this this anti-bird solution continues to keep pest birds away for over 8 years.
Is it affected by rain?
Bird Free Gel is completely unaffected by rainwater. The substance isn?t water soluble and is therefore not washed away by falling rain. And it continues to emit UV radiation when wet, keeping pest birds at bay, even when covered in rainwater.
Does it work when discoloured by pollution?
UV radiation can only be blocked by solid objects and isn?t inhibited by particulates such as dust or airborne pollutants. This is why the dishes of Bird Free Gel at Kings Cross station have remained effective for over 8 years even though exposed dishes are now blackened with accumulated dirt.
We offer Bird Free Gel in a variety of practical formats for a wide range of applications. Our Bird Free Gel Balcony Protector pack is specifically designed for convenient deployment to balconies and patios that can attract unwanted, messy birds. Mats with attached Bird Free Gel dishes are quickly and easily placed exactly where they are needed, immediately prompting any visiting birds to stay away.
Pre-loaded magnetic dishes of Bird Free Gel are easily attached to any ferrous metal surface and our pipe and railing fixing pack simply uses cable ties to securely attach the dishes to any pipes, railings or poles that would otherwise be attractive to unwanted feathered visitors.
Regardless of the scale of the bird problem Bird Free Gel is a highly effective solution that remains effective for a very long time.
If you have any questions about effective bird repellents, or if you have any special requirements, remember we are here to help. Give us a call on 01273 475500 and we?ll provide you with free, expert advice.
This message was added on Thursday 4th April 2024
Bird Free Gel - Your Questions Answered Thursday 1st February 2024
Spring signals the start of the main nesting season for most birds - including those that can be a nuisance. In this post we answer many of the questions often asked about our highly acclaimed Bird Free Gel.
While everyone in the UK loves wildlife there are some creatures that can become problematic. Certain birds, especially pigeons and seagulls, are well known for being invasive, messy and often noisy. People suffering from bird infestations can struggle to find effective, humane solutions which is why we offer Bird Free Gel from our store. This is an exceptionally effective bird deterrent that?s now widely used to protect a wide variety of public spaces, train stations, historic buildings and private homes from the impact of pest bird infestations.
Here are some of the questions people often ask about their bird problems and using Bird Free Gel.
Why do Pigeons (or Seagulls) Build Their Nests on My Roof?
One of the problems with pest birds is that when they have decided on a nesting site they are likely to remain there. They select their nesting sites based on the availability of food and shelter. So if there are nearby bins where they can find food scraps and maybe a sheltered rooftop area, such as under solar panels, they are likely to find the rooftop an attractive nesting location.
What are the Laws Regarding Pest Bird Control?
All wild birds in England are protected by law. People are not allowed to capture wild birds, or damage their eggs or nests to prevent or solve problems they may be causing. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) states that all wild birds are protected and usually cannot be killed or taken except under licence. As a result, you must not: intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird.
But there are various non-lethal bird control tactics that can be effective. Including:
Restricting access to food.
Scaring the birds away (e.g. using scarecrows).
Protecting areas to prevent birds from roosting or nesting.
Managing areas to make them less attractive to birds seeking nesting sites.
Using physical barriers to keep birds away.
Which Birds are Classed as Vermin in the UK?
It is important to note that the term ?vermin? has no legal meaning. Vermin is a purely subjective term.
But several bird species are recognised as pests in the UK. Pigeons are at the top of the list, followed by seagulls. But geese, magpies, sparrows, starlings, crows, doves and even woodpeckers and swallows are all known to have caused problems for some people and would therefore be considered as pests.
Do Bird Nests and Droppings Cause Damage?
Nesting birds can cause damage and danger in many ways.
Bird droppings are messy and corrosive. Their excrement is highly acidic with a pH of around 3 to 4.5. This will eat through most building materials if left untouched.
The natural nesting behaviour of birds can also lead to property damage as birds will peck at roofing materials, build nests under solar panels and seek out crevices and other sheltered areas in which to build their nests and raise their chicks.
Nest-building involves the collection of debris which will often accumulate in guttering systems causing blockages that will potentially result in water damage. Dried nesting materials also present a significant fire risk, easily ignited by an ember from a garden bonfire.
Chimneys and ventilation systems are also often blocked by birds nests. This can cause serious hazards including the build up of poisonous carbon monoxide inside a building.
Bird nests can also host ticks, mites, lice and fleas along with viruses, bacteria and parasites. Moulted bird feathers can also cause breathing difficulties as well as contributing to the previously mentioned blockages and fire risk.
Are Bird Droppings Hazardous to Humans?
Bird droppings can be very hazardous to humans.
A build-up of bird excrement on pavements and walkways can be very slippery, especially when wet, making it dangerous to walk on.
And breathing dust or water droplets contaminated with bird droppings can lead to various infections including Salmonella or even Psittacosis. Salmonella is a well known bacterial infection that can cause diarrhoea and is particularly dangerous to infants and people with weakened immune systems. Psittacosis is a rare bacterial infection mainly associated with parrots and similar species but does affect other birds, including pigeons. Symptoms are typically a flu-like illness and pneumonia.
Why are Birds Considered to be Dangerous Pests?
The primary reasons why some birds can be considered dangerous pests are as previously noted. Their nests can cause a range of hazards and their droppings can carry a variety of diseases.
But another aspect of the danger caused by pest birds is their protective nature toward their chicks and eggs. Seagulls will swoop on people and pets if they consider them to be a threat. This behaviour will usually subside once chicks have fledged.
Am I Allowed to Remove Bird Nests?
As noted, all wild birds are protected by law in the UK. It is a criminal offence, under Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981, to intentionally take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built. The law prevents anyone from moving or damaging nests while they are being built or when they are being used. Only a few exceptions to this ruling can be applied under licence.
But once a nest has been entirely abandoned it is OK to remove some nests. It is important to be aware of exceptions regarding birds that are known to reuse their nests. For up-to-date details on these birds check the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
Can Pest Controllers Shoot Pigeons?
In some circumstances shooting pest birds might be used as a last resort. Pest control professionals will always attempt to use other bird control methods before shooting them. The vast majority of pest bird shooting activities are focused on feral pigeons which breed prolifically.
The shooting of pigeons is permitted under the authority of relevant general licences issued by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) for England, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) for Wales, NatureScot for Scotland, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in Northern Ireland, and the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) on the Isle of Man. General licences authorise the control of specified species for defined purposes listed on the relevant licence, such as ?preventing serious damage?.
What is the Best Way to Keep Birds Away?
If you carry out an online search for the ?best bird deterrent? you?ll be presented with a long list of well know anti-bird solutions. For any anti-bird solution to be considered as ?the best? it must be both effective and appropriate for the specific situation and circumstances.
Visual deterrents include scarecrows, shiny objects moving in the breeze and fake birds of prey. While these techniques can have some deterrent impact they aren?t widely considered to be universally effective. Birds are intelligent creatures that can quickly determine whether a visual deterrent is actually a real threat. But on the plus side, visual deterrents are easy to deploy and generally very low cost.
Physical barriers include anti-bird netting and anti-bird spikes. Both of these are recognised as effective in some situations. Shrouding a balcony in anti-bird netting, for example, will entirely prevent birds from accessing the balcony area but many would find it obtrusive and some netting can be hazardous to smaller birds. Anti-bird spikes will also prevent birds from landing and roosting on some surfaces but some birds are very good at negotiating their way around these devices. Installation and deployment of these physical barriers can also be challenging as well as expensive.
Sonic and ultrasonic bird repellants are another option. Sonic repellants use audible sounds of natural predators, such as birds of prey or foxes, to scare birds away. And ultrasonic devices use sounds that ar outside the range of human audibility, but can be heard by birds. Sonic devices may be prohibited by law in some areas and can potentially upset the neighbours while ultrasonic devices can be effective but birds will sometimes become accustomed to the sounds.
Bird Free Fire Gel is what we recommend. Used in the UK since 2011 Bird Free Gel has become widely recognised for its incredible bird deterrent properties. Its sometimes simply called Fire Gel as the unique compound emits ultraviolet light that bird?s perceive as fire. This has an immediate impact, prompting birds to stay clear. And Bird Free Gel not only exploits birds? visual senses it also contains peppermint oil which has long been known to be an effective bird deterrent. The combination of visual and olfactory stimuli cause birds to immediately keep away. Birds also hate to get the gel substance on their feathers and they quickly learn to stay away from areas where the substance is deployed.
Bird Free Gel is very low cost and easily deployed wherever there are pest birds that need to be kept at bay.
Do Fake Owls Keep Birds Away?
Fake owls fall into the visual bird deterrent category. Some pest birds may initially be deterred by the appearance of a fake owl but this deterrent effect is likely to be short-lived. Birds are intelligent creatures and will soon learn that a fake owl doesn?t move and isn?t really a serious threat. It is not uncommon to see a fake owl covered in bird droppings due to ?pest? birds perching on it!
Will Aluminium Foil Keep Birds Away?
Aluminium foil, old CDs and even scarecrows are all well known visual bird deterrents that can have some positive impact in keeping pest birds at bay. Gardeners often use shiny foil or CDs, strung across their gardens, to help protect seedlings from hungry birds.
Much like the fake owl technique, aluminium foil and other shiny devices might have some immediate impact but this can be short-lived as birds become accustomed to whatever is being used.
What is Bird Free Gel?
Bird Free Gel is a proprietary gel mixture that contains pyranine. This is the same colouring agent used in highlighter pens. This ingredient fluoresces when exposed to UV radiation, causing the gel to glow with ultraviolet light.
While UV light is invisible to us humans, birds can see it. And to them the shimmering UV light resembles the appearance of fire which triggers their natural response to keep away. The fire-like UV appearance of Bird Free Gel is why its sometimes called Fire Gel.
As noted, the gel substance also contains peppermint oil and studies have demonstrated how birds respond to the menthol vapours emitted by peppermint by keeping away.
These two bird-deterrent components trigger immediate responses, causing birds to stay away from wherever Bird Free Gel has been deployed. And if pest birds attempt to return to a previously used nesting site where the gel has been used they may encounter the viscous material which will stick to their feathers. This is another powerful deterrent that encourages birds to move on and find alternative nesting sites.
Importantly, Bird Free Gel is totally harmless to people, pets and birds. Although birds hate the stuff, it doesn?t cause them any harm whatsoever, even if they come into direct contact with it. (Note: although the Gel is safe and manufacured from food grade ingredients, it is advisable to ensure that your pet dog does not have access to it, in order to ensure that they don`t ingest any quantity of it).
How Do I Use Bird Free Gel?
As well as being highly effective in keeping birds away from where they aren?t welcome Bird Free Gel is incredibly easy to use and doesn?t cost a fortune. Supplied in pre-filled dishes its simply a matter of placing these wherever birds like to roost, nest or congregate. To make installation even easier we supply bird free gel in various dish formats including magnetic, cable-tie attached or our super easy-to-use balcony protector pack that consists of a rubber matt carrying a number of prefilled Bird Free Gel dishes. One or more of these preconfigured matts can be easily and quickly placed where necessary on a balcony or patio to immediately prevent pest birds from becoming a nuisance.
Its important to initially clean the area in which the Bird Free Gel dishes are to be installed, ideally with an appropriate biocide and while wearing sensible protective clothing (gloves, goggles and safety dust mask).
Is Bird Free Gel Effective and How Long Does it Last?
Many extensive studies into the effectiveness of Bird Free Gel have now been carried out and all have delivered incredible results. But perhaps the most compelling evidence of efficacy comes from our own customer reviews of this product. Here are just a few:
Hallelujah! I inherited a seagull nest when I bought my house a couple of years ago (it?s opposite a flat roof building hosting a colony) and of course they returned last year. I was advised netting or spikes weren?t options and fortunately found Bird Free Fire Gel online. I spoke to Elke who besides being extremely knowledgeable, efficiently sent them express delivery (at my cost) and I had them installed the next day. I had a ?high pressure? area as they?d regularly returned to this spot and though I bought a couple of extra boxes, I?ve used them all @ 15cm intervals. They briefly returned the next day but soon left and have not been seen since. Thank you. Great product and great service.
So far so good! This amazing gel seems to have done the trick and kept the pigeons away from our house balconies and parapet. I?m impressed with something that is passive in the sense it doesn?t harm any of the birds at all.
Great product that really works and the pre loaded dishes make it very quick and easy to install.
You do have to clean the site down first to get rid of old bird mess and nesting stuff before installing Bird Free - using the biocide will help, but fixing the dishes in place is a doddle and the birds will be gone in a day or two because birdfree works right away.
And Bird Free Gel is formulated to be incredibly durable. It remains effective, if undisturbed, for at least three years and usually much longer. Trials have demonstrated that even when the gel is covered in accumulated dust and grime it continues to keep birds away.
Where is Bird Free Gel Used?
Bird Free Gel is now relied upon to keep pest birds away from many historic buildings, railway stations, hospitals, shopping centres, shops and many other locations. Follow this link to a page where you can see videos of Bird Free Gel successfully deployed in a wide variety of often challenging situations.
As specialists in the supply of effective bird proofing solutions we regularly publish content on this topic. Here are some of our previous posts that you will find useful.
If you have any questions about bird free gel or if you have any special requirements remember that we are here to help. Give us a call on 01273 475500 and we?ll provide you with free, expert advice.
This message was added on Thursday 1st February 2024
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