Kildare student helping to protect bats in south Wicklow

Conceived and produced by fifth-year St Paul’s Monasterevin student Rory Cummins of ‘Bat Haven’, the ingenious boxes are made of PVC foam board, are waterproof and resist rot and decay, ensuring that they will withstand the worst nature can throw at them and support “a lifetime of conservation”.

Constructed by Rory in his home workshop and sold via his Bat Haven Facebook page, the non-toxic and easy-to-install boxes intend to reverse the “loss of habitat this species is experiencing due to issues such as deforestation”.

Eager to help Rory protect Ireland’s bat population and offer them a safe and secure home, when Tinahely Tidy Towns Secretary Lucy Moller was contacted by the inspirational 17-year-old with the intriguing proposal, an instant connection was made, with the boxes perfectly aligning with the community group’s conservational ethos.

“Rory contacted us and asked if we’d be interested in buying some of his bat boxes, which are just fantastic and so professionally put together,” Lucy said.

“We’re very interested in doing conservation work anyway, and we commissioned four barn owl boxes last year, so we’re just trying to do our best for all aspects of our environment.

“We bought four boxes, and we have put it out to the community to let us know if they have bats living near them and if they’d like to put one up.

“Once that bit of community consultation is wrapped up, they’ll be put up around the town.

“They have to be put up at a 4m height to protect from predators, and they also have to be facing southeast, as per Rory’s excellent instructions, to get a minimum of six hours of sunlight each day.

“We couldn’t be more complimentary of Rory, his brilliant boxes, and his passion for bats, promoting them and helping them flourish,” she added.

“To think that he started all of this, from an idea through to a business, at such a young age, it shows real maturity. He is definitely going places.”

An avid chiropterologist (one who studies bats) and naturalist, Rory attributes his love for nature and creating solutions to help restore habitats to his upbringing in stunning surroundings near the National Japanese Gardens Irish National Stud and Gardens, on the outskirts of Kildare town, and many an afternoon spent in the company of his gifted grandfather.

“I’ve always had that passion for wildlife and helping it out,” Rory began.

“When I was much smaller, I used to do a lot of carpentry and would build things. My grandfather was a builder and served his time working in Kildangan Stud, and when I was around him, I would pick up little techniques and tricks.

“In first and second year, I started making birdhouses and feeders, and I must have made around 50 of them one summer, and I’d take them to local craft fairs.

“That inspired my passion for business and helping biodiversity at the same time, which ticked both boxes for me.

“In transition year, we did mini-companies, and I and some friends set up ‘Eco-Life’, which was the same idea, bird houses and feeders, but using waste materials from building sites that would lead to deforestation – PVC pipes and that kind of thing.

“We entered the business into a competition called NFTE (Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship) and made the national finals, which we were delighted with.

“That came to a stop, and then, last Christmas, I came up with the idea that I should start the bat box business because I knew there would be a demand for it,” he continued.

“I thought about different designs and materials, and it took me about a month to arrive at a design that would suit the bats, so I started getting prototypes made in February.

“I outsourced the prototyping to my uncle, who makes signs and has a supplier, so after I had mapped out the specs on a computer, he was able to get the material – PVC Foamex – cut for me, which I was able to glue together.

“The beauty of the material is that it’s non-toxic and will last a lot longer than a timber counterpart – a lifetime because it is a recycled plastic material.

“The material is black, which is a huge benefit too because it doesn’t need to be painted, as most paints are toxic, which can pose a threat to the bats, and also, dark materials keep the temperature of the boxes warmer too, so that helps the bats too.”

Although Rory had initially targeted his local communities for his bat boxes, after sending out scores of emails and correspondence, he is now hoping to broaden his consumer base and protect as many of the 10 bat species recorded in Ireland as possible by reaching out to Wicklow Tidy Towns volunteers, reforestation projects and everyone in between to spread his conservation message.

“I want to make the idea work, and I want to help bats, so I started to reach out to neighbouring counties, and I’ve started to receive some great support, such as that I have received from Tinahely,” Rory said.

“I would love for people interested in bat conservation projects to find me online, but at the moment, it’s just me reaching out to people and sending them emails.

“The hope is that the business and the brand will grow organically, so I can spend more time working with biodiversity and community groups in Tidy Town and less time writing emails!”

Asked if he could see himself pursuing a professional career in conservation, Rory replied: “I’m in fifth year now, and I’m on the fence about the future, but I could definitely see myself helping someone, some people or something in the future.

“I like to give back and try to find something that will keep everyone happy – ticking all the boxes.

“I like the thought of helping wildlife and promoting biodiversity, whether that’s setting up something that would bring people together to work for animals and nature.

“I could see myself doing something that will take all of that into consideration. That would make me very happy.”

For more information about Rory’s bat boxes, visit the ‘Bat Haven’ Facebook page or contact info.bathaven@gmail.com