In-Wall Bat Box Brick

The Bekstone Bat Box Brick (229 x 215 x 102 mm) is a tumbled face block crafted to provide habitats for small UK birds. Designed to meet UK Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) regulations, this innovative brick helps house builders and developers enhance biodiversity in their projects. It shares the same dimensions and appearance as Bekstone's existing tumbled stone building blocks (229 x 215 x 102 mm), ensuring seamless integration into various architectural designs.

UK Bat Species & Roosts

Bats are under increasing pressure as habitat and land use changes, and it encroaches on their traditional roosting sites. Older trees with appropriate cavities and spaces between the bark and trunk are less common (especially as Health & Safety laws mean there is much more arboreal management and felling of dead/dying trees). Likewise, derelict building numbers are dwindling, and new build homes have until recently be "sealed" units, giving bats fewer opportunities to find a roost.

The Bekstone Bat Brick reintroduces the possibility of bats roosting within the structure of the building, creating a roosting space within the wall (either as a maternity roost or a hibernation roost - depending on where it is sited). The size of the entrance hole and the internal roost have been designed to accommodate a wide range of UK indigenous bat species:

• Barbastelle (Barbastella barbastellus)
• Bechstein's bat (Myotis bechsteinii)
• Brandt's bat (Myotis brandti)
• Brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus)
• Common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus)
• Daubenton's bat (Myotis daubentonii)
• Leisler's bat (Nyctalus leisleri)
• Nathusius' pipistrelle (Pipistrellus nathusii)
• Natterer's bat (Myotis nattereri)
• Noctule (Nyctalus noctula)
• Soprano pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus)
• Whiskered bat (Myotis mystacinus)

Incorporating these bat box bricks into construction projects supports bat populations, promoting ecological balance and sustainability, while maintaining aesthetic consistency with traditional building materials. This approach underscores a commitment to environmental stewardship in urban development.

Easily Increase On-site Biodiversity & Habitat

By incorporating these bat roosting box bricks, house builders and developers can adhere to UK Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) regulations, which mandate measures to improve biodiversity in new developments.

Matching Looks to Bekstone Tumbled Walling for Aesthetic Cohesion

The Bekstone Bat Box Bricks not only provides essential roosting sites for various species of bats, crucial to in our ecosystem, but also maintains the visual appeal and uniformity of Bekstone's tumbled stone walling blocks. This innovative approach allows for ecological sustainability without compromising on design, making it an ideal choice for environmentally-conscious building projects.

Environmental Benefits

Integrating these bat box bricks demonstrates a commitment to environmental stewardship and enhances the ecological value of new developments. These blocks are manufactured with the same environmental and sustainability standards that are met for all Bekstone products. Bekstone walling has achieved a BREEAM 'A' certification.

Made in Burford, Oxfordshire

Bekstone Nesting Box Bricks are made of reconstituted stone (Oolite limestone) quarried at our factory site, at Burford Quarry, in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom using 100% 'green' electricity at our production plants and offices. The box behind the facing stone is upcycled from waste stone material, to help improve the units environmental footprint.

Installation & Siting of Bat Box Bricks

Maternity Roosts - Bat Box Bricks for maternity roost where young bats will be raised are best placed on a south or west facing wall. This ensures the nest is exposed to the sun (and its heat). Ideally you will also want to ensure a source of insects nearby on which the bats can feed and a water source. A pond, water feature or bird bath are good sources for drinking water. Nearby vegetation (that does not obscure flight access to the roost entrance) is also key, providing foraging opportunities and habitat. We suggest planting evening scented plants to attract the insects the bats will feed upon.

Evening Scented Plants

• Angel's trumpet
• Hesperis matronalis
• Night phlox
• Petunia
• Wisteria
• Star jasmine

Hibernation Roost - Male bat roost and hibernation roost are generally best sited on north and east facing walls which will be cooler and more suited to these types of roosts.

Bekstone Nesting Box Bricks should be mortared into the normal course pattern just like a standard 229 x 215 tumbled "jumper" block. As the brick is hollow (to provide the habitat for the roosting bat) it should not be considered as a full load-bearing structural block, but treated similarly to a ventilation brick.