New Best Practice Bat Access Tile for Tile and Slate Roofs

A KENT BUSINESS has found itself at the forefront of the fight to support protected British bats after working with conservationists on a scientifically informed bat access roof tile.

Just Lead and sister company English Leadworks have collaborated with the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) to design, manufacture and launch the new tile, which has been designed specifically with the need of roosting bats in mind.

Best Practice Bats Access

Steve Perryman, MD of both companies, explained that they worked with the BCT through its Roost Partnership. This is a conservation-led built environment scheme to provide more safe havens for the bats.

Steve said, “Our expertise lies in making lead roofing products and accessories so the BCT’s advice, and the knowledge of ecologists feeding information into the BCT, was crucial. Giving bats access points at roof level and creating a safe haven for them means everything to us and gives us peace of mind knowing we are doing something to help them.”

Scientific Evidence

Joanna Ferguson, Built Environment Manager for the BCT, explained that their work with Roost Partners ensures that bat conservation features such as access tiles and bat boxes are designed with the latest best practice guidance and research knowledge in mind.

Joanna said: “There are lots of products on the market aimed at supporting bat colonies but we aren’t always sure which ones work. It was therefore brilliant to work with Steve and have the chance to design a tile incorporating as many features in line with bats’ needs as possible based on scientific research and feedback from ecologists.”

Steve and his team are now manufacturing the lead tile from their workshop in Kent, with 10% of sales going to the BCT to help fund research.

Tiles and Slate Roofs

The tile is suitable for tiled or slated roofs. It provides an access point for crevice roosting bats (such as the Pipistrelle species) under the tiles against the bitumen felt, or through a gap in the felt for roof void dwelling species (such as brown long-eared bats).

The new tile can be used to meet legal requirements to protect bats during building maintenance and construction, where the access tiles may be required as mitigation under advice from a bat ecologist.

“Many bats like to squeeze through tiny gaps and roost between roof tiles and felt – you’ll get a little cluster squeezed in feeling really safe because nothing can get to them.

Some species like being within a roof space so they will crawl through a tiny hole between the felt and the tile, fly into the loft space and hang at the roof apex.

“This new access tile is suitable for either type of these bat species, however advice should be sought from an ecologist when fitting them to ensure the best possible outcome for bats,” added Joanna.

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