Installer of the Month April 2026 | Duchy Pest Control

We are super excited to announce April’s Defender® Bird Spikes Installer of the Month award goes to Scot Tresidder of Duchy Pest Control, and it is truly a very well deserved win. We were especially pleased to see Scot take the April title. As a local installer based in Cornwall, and someone who has consistently submitted strong entries, his work has been on our radar for a while. His installations are neat, well thought through and clearly photographed, which makes a real difference when each entry is being judged.

This month we are honoured to have guest judge, Mark Wenman of the NPTA. With his wealth of industry knowledge and a sharp eye for what makes a bird proofing installation stand out, he was looking for work that showed care, practical thinking and a strong understanding of the site.

Mark said:

"Thanks again for asking me to look at all the wonderful installations. And they all were so good. Most had some very challenging access and lovely scenery too- always a bonus when working at height.I liked the aesthetic solutions. Time had been clearly spent on the surveys, with bird pressure and displacement always guiding the installs. It was super tough to pick a winner. All bird installers deserve a prize as it looks easy on the ground, less so when up on high."

What made Duchy Pest Control’s winning entry stand out?

The winning entry featured several installations Scot carried out in April. On a property in Mevagissey, Scot used our Defender® Curved Ridge Spikes and Defender Irritator. He thoroughly prepared the roof tiles with a wire brush, removing debris and lichen to give the silicone a strong hold. As the area is so exposed, he also screwed the products down for extra security, using the integral holes in the base.

He fitted the Defender Irritator behind the chimney stack, and the installation is faultless. The long wires of the Irritator hang freely above a mat of Defender Extreme Gull. Gulls hate anything touching their wings, so this combination helps deter returning gulls from nesting in this area. To finish, Scot also spiked the chimney top to deter perching gulls.

Judge Wenman said,

‘His install has a very nice use of the curved ridge spike and screws to prevent gulls pressuring only an adhesive bond. The 'Irritator' and spike deterrent combination and positioning is great.’

Another customer in Penzance had been suffering with gulls for years. As scaffolding was already in place for a new flat roof, Scot was asked to carry out bird proofing work on the chimneys while access was safe and straightforward. He used our terracotta Defender Crowns, which can be installed using only silicone. However, Scot also used screws, again using the integral holes in the base. This extra fixing was a thoughtful choice, as the property sits in a very exposed location by the bay and gets hit hard by the wind.

Our guest judge, Mark Wenman, commented,

'I really like the use of the terracotta colour crown for the chimney pot birdguard. This is very aesthetic and well thought through.'

Scot loved using the Defender Crown because it is moulded in one piece, with no extra fittings needed and no cutting required. It is one size fits all and is so easy to install.

This entry stood out because it was practical, neat and site specific. Scot thought carefully about the location, the wind, the pressure from gulls and the long term result for the customer. He also took the time to photograph the work properly, which matters more than people realise. A good installation deserves good photos, and Scot clearly thinks about how to show the work in a way that helps others understand what has been done.

How did Scot get into pest control?

Scot was born and raised in Cornwall, but his pest control career began after he moved to Bristol in 2002. At the time, he had watched the BBC programme Life of Grime, which featured pest control work. Soon after, he spotted a job advert in the local paper for a pest controller, with no experience necessary. I just thought that looks a laugh, I’ll do that.

After working for several companies, both large and small, Scot has now been in the industry for more than two decades. In 2019, he decided to take the plunge and go self employed and launched Duchy Pest Control. It was a big step, but one he has not looked back from. Since then, Duchy Pest Control has grown year on year, with Scot now looking after a mixture of everyday pest control work, large contracts and specialist bird control projects.

What made Scot move into bird control?

Bird control has been part of Scot’s career from the start. When he first joined the pest control industry, he was trained in bird work, including netting and spiking. He has kept that experience going throughout his career, and it is still one of the parts of the job he enjoys most.

For Scot, bird control is never the same twice. Every building is different. Every access challenge is different. Every proofing job needs its own bit of thought. That shows in his work; whether he is fitting crowns, ridge spikes, netting or irritators, there is a clear sense that he is thinking beyond the product and looking at how the birds are using the structure.

Scot covers the usual day to day pest control work, including rats, mice and other pests, as well as bird control. Based in Hayle, he covers much of Cornwall, from Land’s End up to St Austell. Most of the time, it is just Scot. If a roof job is safe and manageable for one person, he will carry it out himself. For larger or more awkward installations, he brings in trusted help. This is especially useful for bigger netting projects, where an extra pair of hands can make a real difference.

What is the most satisfying part of pest control?

Scot described pest control as being a bit like the fourth emergency service. People do not want to need a pest controller, but when they do, they are very glad to see one.

When you’ve walked away and you’ve got rid of their rats, or stopped the birds from waking them up at four in the morning, it’s quite satisfying.

That is the heart of good pest control. It is practical work, but it is also about reassurance. It is solving a problem, giving people their space back and leaving them with peace of mind.

What made Scot choose Defender® Bird Spikes?

First and foremost its the quality of our products.

"They’re absolute quality products. I’ve never had a problem with them. I feel they are far superior to other spikes."

He also loves the customer service and care, which he says is excellent and likes to support local businesses. With us based in Devon, we are literally neighbours.

Congratulations again to Scot from Duchy Pest Control on a very well deserved Defender® Bird Spikes Installer of the Month award for April. A fabulous installation, a thoughtful approach and a great local winner.

If you have a bird control or pest control issue in and around Hayle in Cornwall, you should contact Scot of Duchy Pest Control so he can solve your bird problem once and for all.