Bats come home to roost for Tarmac

Company praised for its work in protecting the habitat of endangered bats at Halecombe Quarry

A SURVEY by a consultant ecologist has shown that the number of lesser horseshoe bats roosting at Tarmac’s Halecombe Quarry, near Leigh-on-Mendip, in Somerset, has increased and breeding has also been confirmed.

Henry Andrews of Bridgwater-based Andrews Ecology Ltd said Tarmac’s work had also led to the return of the brown long-eared bat to the site in increasing numbers.

The mammals, which are protected by European law, were found to be roosting in Rookery Farmhouse, a dilapidated property that dates back to the 17th century on the quarry site.

Plans were in place to renovate the house after it was awarded Grade II listed status by Mendip District Council in 2008 but because of the high legal protection afforded to bats, the plans had to be changed quickly.

Working with Mendip Council, Natural England and English Heritage, Tarmac commissioned the building of a temporary roost close to the farmhouse while renovation work took place.

Construction work was finally completed in June 2009 and careful monitoring has taken place since to see if the bat population would remain stable or increase.

‘It was a long shot and there was a concern that the temporary bat shed wouldn’t work, but they took to it straight away,’ said Mr Andrews.

When the farmhouse renovation was finished, complete with compartments in the roof void, the temporary roost was kept to encourage more bats to the site.

While the majority of the 21 lesser horseshoe bats at the site have returned to the original farmhouse, the bat shed has been taken over by one male and three females have been seen there, confirming hopes that it has become a mating roost.

An added bonus has been the permanent return of the brown long-eared bat colony to the farmhouse post restoration, with about 10 bats visiting throughout the year.

‘It has been a huge success, thanks to Tarmac’s commitment to ensuring the safety and welfare of the bats,’ said Mr Andrews. ‘All the Tarmac team and contractors have understood the importance of the roost and made sure no corners were cut.

‘It was exactly the right way to do the project and it was carried out very thoroughly. There is a thriving colony of bats at Halecombe now, which is an excellent result.

‘Of the 15 bat species present in Somerset, Halecombe Quarry is visited by eight and three roost there. This is great news for biodiversity.’

Daniel Brailsford, zone manager at the quarry, said Tarmac were keen from the outset to ensure everything was done properly to protect the bats.

‘We didn’t want to rush the project or do anything that would jeopardize the welfare of the bats,’ he commented.

‘It was important for us to get this right from a conservation point of view and we were very pleased to work with Henry Andrews, whose expertise ensured that the bats could both survive and thrive at Halecombe.’