The week commencing Monday 14th February is Nestbox Week! Use the guide below to build your own (download it from here), and read along to find out why nestboxes are not only important for birds but also very good for us too.
Nest-Box-instructions-2Why do nestboxes matter?
Extract from the excellent Nestbox Week website.
British birds are short of nesting holes, and there are plenty of reasons why.
Our gardens, parks and woodland are neater and tidier than they used to be, depriving birds of natural holes to find a home. And to make matters worse there are fewer handy nooks and crannies in modern buildings. The populations of many bird species are down as a result of this housing shortage.
The good news is that everyone can do their bit to help… and your own garden’s a great place to start.
The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) reckons that if all the gardens in Britain were rolled up into one giant plot, it would be a huge area bigger than Suffolk.
Just imagine how our wild birds would benefit if each one of those gardens contained a nestbox or two, plus plants and insects to provide food. Alongside common visitors – like Blue Tits, Great Tits, House Sparrows, Robins and Starlings – putting up a box will also boost your chance of attracting rarer species into the bargain.
Don’t forget that nestboxes are good for us too. Spending time in the garden, building your own box and watching birds make themselves at home are all great stress-busters.
