There was a splendid show of seedlings outside the village hall at May’s VE Day Village Breakfast Fare. This included a selection of both vegetable and flower seedlings available to swap.
Plenty of interest was shown by attendees and those without swaps were able to make £ donations for their selections.
At the end of the day these generous donations raised almost £40 towards future Environmental Group’s projects, such as bird box making.
The bird box project will provide kits suitable for a range of birds including blue tits, great tits, sparrows, spotted flycatchers, robins and wrens. If there is enough demand we could also make durable nest cups for house martins.
It’s never too late (or too early) to be making boxes as some species will over-winter in boxes to keep out of the weather.
We are looking for donations of suitable wood, which ideally should be untreated. If it is treated then it must be weathered before being used as most treatment contain pesticide.
In order for us to get some idea of demand for boxes and/or to make a donation of materials please email Martin Iddon at ericstpi@yahoo.co.uk or fill in the form that will be available at the next Village Breakfast Fare.
Feeling Crafty?
Why not make your own box? Click the bird box below to view and download a set of plans endorsed by the RSPB that can be adapted as required (opens in new tab/window).
Note – the plans don’t mention the thickness of the wood – around 13-18mm (half-inch-ish) is about right.
Did you know? It’s the size and shape of the hole that defines what type of bird might use the box. Round holes – Bluetits love a 25mm (1″) hole, whereas Great Tits and Sparrows prefer 28mm and Nuthatches love a 32mm hole. Rectangular holes are preferred by Robins and Pied Wagtails at about 100mm (4″) high. An easy web search will tell you more.
And here’s a bird box in action. This has a nest of blue tits (7 eggs hatched) and busy mum and dad feeding the babies regularly.
So we’ll hopefully see you all at the next Village Breakfast Fare.
Martin