Braunstone Town Heritage Warden's Report - March 2007

What have you seen? - Can you build it?

NATURE OBSERVATIONS AND BIRD NEST BOXES

Nature Observations

Is winter over and is spring here? Well the plants and birds think it is. Some thought spring had come in December! In fact I saw a Red Admiral butterfly on 2nd February.

Leicestershire County Council’s environment resources centre at Holly Hayes have issued their annual “Season Watch” survey forms which list first sightings of birds, butterflies, moths, trees, insects and plants. If you would like copies to take part, then contact me on 2997847.

Nest Boxes for Birds - Appeal

“Talking” of birds, during 14-21 February it was National Nest Box Week and Braunstone Town Council have offered to erect nest boxes in all of their parks and open spaces. There is one problem, nest boxes. Can you help? We have several plans and details on how to construct them available at the Civic Centre.

Anyone handy with a saw and hammer can make one and then deliver it to me at 39 Shakespeare Drive. It will make an easy winter project for Dad, Granddad, Mum or Grandma.

I’ll arrange for each nest box to be numbered and erected in a suitable place. You will receive details of the location and, if I can get round them all next spring, let you know who is using it.

The plans for nest boxes at the Civic Centre can also be found at the RSPB website:

Alternatively details of how to build or get free nest boxes can be found on the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) website address is:

Sometime in the near future, if we can arrange suitable locations and funding, we would like to install a nest box camera and show the live pictures on the Braunstone Town website, our own version of the BBC’s “Springwatch”!