New nesting boxes for birds

The boxes are made of a product called "Woodstone" which is a mix of wood fibres and concrete. These boxes have many advantages over wooden nest boxes. First, they provide greater protection against nest predators such as grey squirrels and woodpeckers. As we have great spotted woodpeckers in the Green and adjacent allotments, and a population of grey squirrels, protection is a very important consideration. The boxes are extremely durable and resistant to all weather conditions, and so will last many years. Additionally, the mix of wood and concrete helps to stablise the internal temperature of the box, resulting in significantly less fluctation of temperature from day to night, This is important not only during the breeding season, but at other times of year, when birds may use boxes to roost. The insulating properties of the box also allow birds to nest a bit earlier in the year, which has the benefit of enabling them to take advantage of natural food supplies, and potentially also enabling them to have an extra brood later in the year.

When attaching to trees, bird boxes can be put at heights varying between 1.5m and 5.5m (5 - 18 feet), depending on a variety of factors. These include the type of bird it is hoped to attract, and whether there are many cats in the area: if so, locating the box even higher is advisable. Boxes are generally located with the open/hole side facing between north and south east, to avoid both prevailing winds and strong sunlight. In woodlands though, the best side is the dry side of the tree trunk. Open-fronted boxes also benefit from being hidden among climbing plants such as ivy for best protection from predators. Another consideration is the proximity of nearby vegetation, as these give young birds taking their first flights more help and protection. Spacing is another important factor: some guidelines say that boxes catering for the same species generally should be spaced no closer than 10 metres to each other, as birds are territorial. However, some argue that there doesn't need to be a minimum distance between boxes, as the birds will work out occupancy for themselves quite readily.