Story
Sand Martins return from their wintering grounds in Africa each spring to raise their young here in the UK. This is a long, arduous journey of thousands of miles and they need safe spaces to nest when they return.
They typically nest in sandy banks, particularly by rivers and lakes, making their nests in small burrows. Sand Martin walls are a nesting solution consisting of a number of artificial burrows that appeal to these colony nesting birds, with the added benefits of eliminating the risk of collapse and helping to prevent predation.
Sand Martin walls are very successful, with RSPB, CRT and Unlocking the Severn projects at Diglis, Bevere and Holt together producing around 500 chicks since 2022 - a remarkable success.
With the support of Canal and River Trust, Chirk Swifts and House Martins are looking to install a Sand Martin wall at Aston Nature Reserve on the Montgomery Canal, but we need your help to raise the £4000 required to bring this project to life for 2026. Worcester Environmental Group, behind the Unlocking the Severn Sand Martin projects, will be making the box; a tried, tested and successful design many years over.
There is a perfect spot for the wall in view of the beautifully decorated 'Otter Holt' hide where a future colony would be there for all to watch and enjoy.
£4000 covers the costs of building and installing the wall complete with 48 nest chambers, a caller to attract the birds and potentially a camera system so everyone can see what goes on in the nests. Any remaining funds will be used to maintain the boxes and the surrounding environment, and install interpretation boards to raise awareness of the project.
We really appreciate all your donations and look forward to a time when we can share images of our first arrivals! Join our Facebook page to keep up to date with progress - https://www.facebook.com/groups/492835261804671
Hayley Garrod
Chirk Swifts and House Martins
Further information:
Sand Martins
https://www.bto.org/learn/about-birds/birdfacts/sand-martin
RSPB Diglis Sand Martin Wall Blog
https://group.rspb.org.uk/worcester/news-blogs/blog/a-sand-martin-project/
Unlocking the Severn
Chirk Swifts and House Martins
https://www.chirkswiftsandhousemartins.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/492835261804671
Worcester Environmental Group
https://www.theweg.org.uk/our-people
The Montgomery Canal
https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/canals-and-rivers/montgomery-canal
See a nest in action at Diglis
Photos with kind permission of Simon Evans, Worcester and Malvern Local RSPB Group
