Page 13 - City Life Magazine - Summer 2022
P. 13

www.worcester.gov.uk                                                                                   13




          Helping hand to



          increase bird numbers




          Worcester City Council is taking action to

          stop the decline of our native species, by
          joining forces with the RSPB (Worcester and
          Malvern branch) to help boost bird numbers                                                    New bird boxes

          in the city.                                                                                 being put in place

          In March RSPB volunteers met up      yet to reach maturity, when they    RSPB volunteers will also be able to
          with Darren and Josh of the City     would have natural holes. The City   change where we put the boxes if
          Council’s Environmental Operations   Council’s Environmental Operations   they are not being used.
          team to put up 25 nesting boxes in   team have received training from the
          the Laugherne Brook Nature Reserve   RSPB to ensure boxes are installed in   In addition to Council-owned land,
          in St John’s, Worcester.             suitable locations.                 the RSPB has installed an artificial
                                                                                   sand martin bank on Diglis Island
          “We’ve mainly set up nesting boxes   The boxes have been made by         in the River Severn, and has several
          for starlings; they are a fairly common   Worcester Environmental Group   other conservation projects in and
          sight in the winter when they migrate   volunteers at Worcester Community   around Worcester.
          from other colder countries. However,   Trust’s Building Block – a construction
          starlings nesting in the UK are now   training facility in Warndon. Materials   WANT TO HELP?
          a red-listed species,” explained Nick   have been paid for by a Community   Here’s advice from the RSPB on
          Skilbeck from the RSPB.              Environment Grant from Worcester      how to attract nesting birds to
                                               City Council.                         your garden.
          “We’ve also installed some large owl                                       • Put up a sparrow terrace-box
          nesting boxes – although jackdaws    As well as at Laugherne Brook,         high up, under the eaves of
          love them too, in reality!”          the team has also set up nesting       your home, on quiet, secluded
                                               boxes in Warndon Woods, Offerton       walls, sheltered from full midday
          NUMBERS IN DECLINE                   Lane Nature Reserve, Perdiswell        sunshine. North or east facing
          According to the RSPB, the number    Park, Cromwell Crescent Park and       walls are ideal.
          of birds in the UK has declined by 50   Astwood Cemetery.                  • Construct a log pile or bug hotel
          million since the 1960s and they now                                        in your garden, so there’s plenty
          need all the help they can get.      The RSPB group conducts bird           of food for birds.
                                               surveys in these woods and parks, to   • Mow your lawn less frequently
          More nesting boxes are needed in     establish if our birdlife is benefiting   – or leave a strip unmown so
          Worcester in areas where trees have   from having more places to nest.
                                                                                      that wildflowers will grow and
                                                                                      attract pollinators.
                                                                                     • Don’t cut your hedges in the
                                                                                      nesting season (mid-March to
                                                                                      mid-June).

                                                                                       For more information:
                                                                                      W: worcester.gov.uk/climate-
                                                                                         emergency/enhancing-
                                                                                         biodiversity














           RSPB volunteers with bird boxes




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