Each year, from 14^th – 21^st February, people are encouraged to put up nest boxes as a part of National Nest Box Week. The event was started 20 years ago, due to the recognition that there is an increasing shortage of nesting holes for birds. This is due to new buildings having fewer crevices, mature trees reducing in number, and other issues brought about as a result of human behaviour. This lack of nesting space has resulted in a decrease in the population size of many bird species. By putting up nesting boxes in our gardens and parks, we are providing them with a sheltered and safe home where they can lay their eggs and raise their young.

Thanks to support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, I have been able to deliver weekly Forest School sessions at schools across Merseyside.  During our sessions, I realised that many of the children had an interest in the birds visiting their school grounds, and regularly enjoyed using the binoculars to watch and identify the bird species. And so, National Nest Box Week was shared with the children, who wanted to get involved and make a difference for the birds at their school.

To entice a greater variety of birds onto the school grounds, where the sound of children playing may initially scare the birds, the children made bird feeders to hang from the trees around the school.  The style of bird feeder they made was dependent upon the natural resources available in the school grounds, and so took a variety of shapes and sizes, using Willow and Silver Birch to name a few.

The children really loved the idea that they had done something to help the birds, giving them a sense of pride, whilst also having fun in the process.  Using binoculars and identification cards they eagerly await the arrival of pairings of birds ready to nest.

Will you be getting involved in National Nest Box Week? Find out how to build you own bird box with our handy guide.