Bats have experienced a decline in the number of available roosts in the urban environment over recent years due to improved building design, modern materials, and construction practices, resulting in less defects, offering fewer nooks and crannies for our small crevice-dwelling bat friends to call home.
The Manthorpe Bat Ridge Roost™ provides bats with an innovative, purpose-built roosting spot by utilising the height of the gable end, being located at the apex of the roof. Acting as a contemporary ridge cap, it offers a secure and enclosed habitat located right where bats want to be – up high with a prime vantage point on the urban landscape below. The positioning and design allow bats easy access while providing them a protected place to roost.
Increasing emphasis on environmental solutions requires products that don’t compromise construction timelines. That’s where the versatile design of the Ridge Roost comes in. By integrating into the roof’s apex and gable end to serve as the ridge cap itself, it provides an accessible, secure roosting spot for bats. But it does so in a way that eases adoption for housing developers. The two-part installation allows seamless incorporation with both dry verge systems and traditional verge details, while still achieving that modern aesthetic developers want for their properties. It’s an environmentally friendly solution that doesn’t add headaches to already busy build schedules or renovation projects.
Some homeowners may have reservations about providing roosting spots too close for comfort. No need to worry – the Ridge Roost has them covered, quite literally. By mounting on the exterior of the roof, it provides a secure, self-contained roost space without any entry points into the roof space itself. This exterior placement effortlessly integrates bat habitats on new builds and refurbishments offering ideal bat housing while ensuring homeowners can rest easy knowing their winged tenants will remain outside guests.
The Ridge Roost isn’t just another off-the-shelf wildlife housing option though. Manthorpe developed this innovative product hand-in-hand with the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT)
through their Roost Partnership scheme, utilising the BCT’s vast knowledge of bat behaviours and practices throughout the UK. Testing and design iterations were paramount, from the appropriateness of using a polymer-based roost material with its inherent thermal and abrasion properties. Several prototypes were made to test the distinctive shape and surface using real bats to tailor the design.
Thermal stability was a major consideration, with the roost’s inner habitat “sandwiched” in insulation to smooth out temperature fluctuations through testing at Reading University and Manthorpe’s facilities. The interior design also features climbing grooves and a rougher surface on the recycled polymer habitat to enhance manoeuvrability for the bats.
The field-testing process includes partnering with Vistry Group to install Ridge Roosts at one of their development sites through the BCT’s Roost Partnership Scheme. Vistry Group is in the process of installing multiple roosts throughout housing development sites, giving bats more options during their active months from March through October. It also opens up more opportunities for ecologists, researchers, and bat enthusiasts to observe these fascinating nighttime creatures in their urban habitats.
At the end of the day, increasing emphasis on environmental protection and biodiversity means the rest of us need to be ready with solutions that let builders keep building while still being sustainable. The Manthorpe Ridge Roost is a perfect example of a product hitting that sweet spot.
So next time you’re drafting up plans for a new residential development, keep the Ridge Roost in mind. Your bat tenants will thank you for providing them a roof over their heads!