23rd January 2012

Thousand of New Homes to be Built

Constructing a bird box Have you heard the latest twitter – thousands of new homes are being built for immediate occupancy and it all starts on February 14th, which marks the beginning of National Nest Box Week. If you want to get involved and do something to help the birds in your local area, spend a couple of hours on Saturday 18th February with Bernard Baverstock from the Blackwater Valley Countryside Truth and build your own nest box, all the materials will be supplied along with guidance on what you need to do.

It’s important that we help our feathered friends by providing artificial nesting sites. The natural nest sites on which many of the bird species depend, such as holes in trees and buildings, are fast disappearing as Completed bird box gardens and woods are ‘tidied’ and old houses are repaired. Since National Nest Box Week was launched in 1997, thousands of enthusiastic naturalists across the UK have put up boxes to compensate for this loss. It is estimated that there are now five to six million boxes in gardens across the UK benefitting all kinds of birds from blue tits to barn owls.

If you would like to build a nest box for the birds in your, members of the Blackwater Valley Countryside Trust will be at the Ash Centre, Ash Hill Road on Saturday 18^th February from 10.30am to 1pm to help. You can turn up on the day, but as there is only a limited number of boxes available please phone Christine on 01252 331353 or Bernard on 01276 22574, to book a place. All materials are provided and each box is only £5, to include an information sheet from the British Trust for Ornithology and a free hole protector from the RSPB that would cost £2.50, but if possible please bring a hammer with you.

For details about the event visit the Trust website or find out more about National Nest Box week.

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For further information contact:
Christine Reeves, Visitor Promotions Officer on 01252 331353.

EDITOR NOTES

Launched in 2006, the Blackwater Valley Countryside Trust is a charitable organisation which seeks to raise funds to enhance the Blackwater Valley for the benefit of the people and wildlife in the area.
Anyone interested in wildlife and walking, cycling or jogging can join for just £5 per year for family membership (£100 if corporate membership is required) by contacting the Trust at Ash Lock Cottage, Government Road, Aldershot, Hampshire GU11 2PS, telephone 01252 331353 or visit their website
National Nest Box Week (NNBW) is organised each year by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), Britain’s leading bird research charity, whose work primarily involves studying the populations of our common and garden birds.NNBW takes place each year from 14th -21st February, and after 10 years it is now an established part of the ornithological calendar.