Devon shares Cornwall’s exceptional solar irradiance and matches it for density of large rural and farm scale PV installations. Across the South Hams, the Exe Estuary, the North Devon coast and the rural midlands around Exeter, Tiverton and Crediton, rooftop solar is now part of the standard agricultural and residential picture. JG Pest Control has been doing pest work across the county for more than a decade, and our BPCA Level 2 Certified Technicians have proofed hundreds of Devon solar installations from single domestic arrays in the South Hams to large barn roof systems on Mid Devon dairies.
PV panels sit only a few inches above the tile, and that narrow gap is a near perfect cavity from the point of view of any small to medium bird. In Devon the picture splits along three lines. Herring gulls dominate both coasts. Feral pigeons occupy the inland market towns. Rural barn roof arrays attract jackdaws, starlings and the occasional protected species. Each requires a slightly different specification.
Call our local team now: 01392 797013
Free quote on the phone. BPCA Level 2 Certified Techs. Warranty preserving installation.
JG Pest Control covers all of Devon for specialist solar panel bird proofing. We work the south coast (Plymouth, Torbay, Teignmouth, Exmouth, Sidmouth), the north coast (Barnstaple, Ilfracombe, Bideford), the cathedral city of Exeter and its surrounding villages, and the rural midlands and Dartmoor fringe. Our technicians fit marine grade hardware on coastal jobs and standard galvanised on inland properties, with the spec set during the survey.
This is a specialist installation. Done correctly, it preserves the manufacturer warranty on your panels and your inverter (we follow the tamper conditions for SolarEdge, Enphase, Tesla, GivEnergy and Sungrow), complies with the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 around active nests, and is rated for the full 25 year design life of the array.
Find out if we provide pest control near you:
Why Devon Solar Arrays Need Proofing
Devon’s bird picture splits along three lines. The coastal towns on both the north and south coasts see strong herring gull and lesser black backed gull populations, with substantial urban roof nesting colonies in Plymouth, Torbay (Torquay, Paignton, Brixham), Exmouth, Sidmouth, Ilfracombe and Barnstaple. Gulls do not generally nest under solar panels but they perch on top, foul the surface heavily and aggressively defend the airspace during the breeding season.
The inland market towns (Exeter, Tiverton, Crediton, Honiton, Newton Abbot, Totnes) have substantial feral pigeon populations, especially around the railway lines and town centre commercial properties. Pigeons go for the cavity under the panel, and once a single pair has nested successfully on a Devon roof the rest of the local flock tends to follow.
Rural Devon and the Dartmoor fringe is dominated by jackdaws (which will absolutely nest under a panel skirt if given the chance) and starlings, with the occasional opportunistic pigeon. On large agricultural barn roof arrays we sometimes find barn owls, which are protected and require a specialist approach.
If birds are fouling or nesting on your Devon solar array, call us on 01392 797013 or contact us here.
Signs you have a problem:
- Gull or pigeon activity above the array
- White streaking down the panel and tile face
- Scratching, cooing or fluttering in the loft
- Nesting material at the panel edge
- Falling generation readings
Our Devon Solar Bird Proofing Service
A four part process. Survey within 48 hours of your call. Fixed written quote covering linear perimeter, access (MEWP for most domestic jobs, scaffold for larger commercial and rural barn installations) and any biohazard cleaning required first. Pre installation nest removal subject to Wildlife and Countryside Act seasonal restrictions, with all guano bagged for safe biological waste disposal. Then installation of 50mm mesh skirting (marine grade 316 stainless for coastal, standard galvanised for inland) using non penetrating dropper shaped stainless clips that preserve your panel warranty.
Every job carries a written guarantee on the proofing installation and a photo record of every elevation.
Call 01392 797013 for a free quote.
Specialist Service by BPCA Level 2 Certified Technicians, call 01392 797013 .
Contact JG Pest Control Today
Contact JG Pest Control now for a free quote on solar panel bird proofing anywhere in Devon. Every quote is based on array size and access, with a fixed written price after the survey.
What We Install on a Devon Solar Array
Devon is the county with the broadest mix of bird pressures, and the kit list reflects that. The right specification depends on whether you are on the coast, in a market town, or out on a Mid Devon farm.
- 50mm mesh skirt on every job. Marine grade 316 stainless for coastal (south coast Plymouth round to Sidmouth, north coast Ilfracombe to Bideford) and standard galvanised for inland. Supplied in sheet form, cut to the perimeter and tensioned around all four sides.
- Dropper shaped stainless wire clips that hold the mesh to the panel frame underside without anything being drilled, glued or screwed into the frame itself. This is what preserves the manufacturer warranty.
- Stainless polycarbonate gull spikes on the panel upper edges and ridge tiles for coastal jobs in Torbay, Plymouth, Exmouth, Ilfracombe and Barnstaple where surface perching is the main issue.
- Wire posts and post and wire systems on commercial and rural barn roof installations, especially on the larger Mid Devon dairies where the linear perimeter is significant.
- Biohazard cleaning and disinfection for any array with existing guano, with all material bagged for safe biological waste disposal.
Why DIY Voids Your Warranty
Devon’s solar market includes a significant proportion of large farm and barn roof arrays installed in the last five years on commercial warranties that are typically more demanding than domestic terms. A homeowner or farmer who attempts DIY bird removal can easily lose tens of thousands of pounds of warranty cover in a single afternoon.
Panel manufacturer warranties (10 to 12 year product cover and 25 year performance cover from Trina, JA Solar, LG, REC, Jinko, SunPower, Q Cells) typically exclude any installation touched by an unaccredited third party. Inverter warranties from SolarEdge, Enphase, Tesla, GivEnergy and Sungrow apply the same logic to the DC side wiring and the optimisers clipped to the panel frame. Pulling a jackdaw nest out from beneath a Devon barn roof array will almost certainly disturb at least one of those components.
Our installation method is non penetrating throughout. The mesh clips to the panel frame underside only. No DC wiring is touched, no optimisers are moved, and both panel and inverter warranties stay intact.
Rural Devon and Farm Scale Arrays
Devon has one of the largest rural and farm scale solar PV markets in the UK, with significant rooftop arrays on barns, dairies and outbuildings across the Mid Devon, the Torridge valley and the South Hams. These large arrays have a much longer linear perimeter than a domestic roof, and the rural location means much higher jackdaw and starling pressure on the cavity beneath the panels. We work with several Devon based solar installers and rural facilities managers on planned proofing at the time of commissioning, which is significantly cheaper than retrofitting once colonies have established.
The coastal picture on both the north Devon and south Devon coasts is dominated by gulls. Marine grade hardware is essential within five miles of the sea, and on cliff top properties we sometimes need to work with the local council on temporary access permissions for MEWP.
Areas We Cover Across Devon
Our BPCA Level 2 Certified Technicians provide solar panel bird proofing across Devon, including:
- Exeter
- Plymouth
- Torquay
- Paignton
- Brixham
- Newton Abbot
- Barnstaple
- Bideford
- Ilfracombe
- Exmouth
- Sidmouth
- Honiton
- Tiverton
- Crediton
- Totnes
- Dartmouth
- Kingsbridge
- Salcombe
- Teignmouth
- Dawlish
- Okehampton
- Tavistock
- Ottery St Mary
- Cullompton
If your town or village is not listed, we still cover it. Call 01392 797013 for solar panel bird proofing anywhere in Devon.
Frequently Asked Questions: Solar Panel Bird Proofing in Devon
How quickly can you get to my Devon property?
We aim to survey within 48 hours across the county. Same week installation is usually achievable once you have accepted the quote, with longer lead times only at the peak of the breeding season in May and June.
What does solar bird proofing cost in Devon?
Every quote is based on array size, perimeter, and access. Single storey domestic installations are at the lower end, two storey suburban properties with MEWP are higher, and large rural barn arrays or commercial installations scale with the linear metres of perimeter. Free quote on the phone, fixed written price after the survey. Call 01392 797013 .
Will the proofing void my solar panel or inverter warranty?
No. We use non penetrating dropper shaped stainless clips that attach to the underside of the panel frame without drilling or modifying anything, and we do not disturb the DC wiring or optimisers. Both the panel product and performance warranties stay intact, as do the SolarEdge, Enphase, Tesla, GivEnergy and Sungrow inverter warranties. DIY removal almost always voids one or both.
Is the problem in Devon gulls or pigeons?
Both, depending where you are. The coastal belts (south coast and north coast) are gull dominated. The inland market towns are pigeon dominated. Rural Devon and the Dartmoor fringe is mostly jackdaws and starlings. Our survey identifies which.
Do you do marine grade installations for coastal Devon?
Yes, always. Anywhere within five miles of the south or north Devon coast we specify marine grade galvanised or 316 stainless hardware. Lesser specifications fail in salt air, sometimes within two or three years.
What if there is an active nest under my panels?
Active nests with eggs or chicks cannot be removed during the breeding season under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. We will recommend a deterrent strategy for the immediate term and schedule the full proofing for after the breeding season.
Do you cover farm scale and commercial solar?
Yes. Rural barn arrays across Mid Devon and the South Hams, commercial PV in the Exeter and Plymouth industrial estates, hotel and hospitality installations along the coast. CHAS and SafeContractor with RAMS as standard.
What qualifications do your technicians hold?
All our installation technicians hold BPCA Level 2 in Pest Management plus IPAF or PASMA for work at height. We carry full public liability insurance.
Ready to book? Call 01392 797013 for a free quote on solar panel bird proofing anywhere in Devon. For our full UK service see our main solar panel bird proofing page.
Please see below many of the pest control services we provide:
Most Common Pests
Other Common Pests
Can't find your Pest? Click here to find out more about our services
Contact one of our specialists today
Enter your postcode below to see if we cover your area.
JG is a leading provider of commercial pest control
Connect with us
