For nearly two years, I’ve run Save The House Sparrow, my grassroots conservation project raising awareness of and protecting Britain’s House Sparrow, a bird we’ve lost over 21million of since 1966. And, in doing so, conserving other urban species, and empowering inner-city peoples to get involved with wildlife conservation.

However, December 31st, I’m ending the project to focus on training to become a professional ecologist. But before you’re free of me, I have a few last “side-projects” I’d love to achieve.

Unfortunately, I’ve not got the funds to make these happen, so have set up a Crowdfunder in the hopes we can raise some money to make them happen. Understandably, most of us are in short supply of disposable income currently, so in the event enough money is raised for only one or two projects, myself, anyone who donates, and the people involved in the projects will collectively decide where the funds go.

Thank-you so much for those considering donating your hard-earned money to the cause, especially in what’s a very hard time for many with the cost of living. Every little helps!

Donations can be refunded prior to the Crowdfunder’s closing date (tbc, mid-December) simply contact me via www.savethehousesparrow.com. And, if there’s a project you’d especially like to fund, do get in touch so I can ensure this.

1. Redwood School. Redwood Academy is a school for pupils with complex learning difficulties, which I’ve had the pleasure of visiting, and already running a “birdbox building workshop” with a group of Yr 11s. We’re currently looking at organizing a second workshop now, likely early 2023, but will need funds for materials. In total, this project would cost about £40 to run (photos of previous workshops will be on the website shortly).

2. Hermitage Stream. Hermitage Stream is a lovely site meandering through urban Waterlooville. Fringed by ancient woodland, mudbanks, wet grassland, and the A3… it’s a vital site for scarce fauna like Grass Snakes, but also as a natural escape for urbanized residents. It’s run by a lovely team of volunteers (Welcome | The Hermitage Stream) whom I’d like to build and install 5 of my finest birdboxes for, plus 5 bat-boxes (involving some very high ladders!) as surveys have shown large numbers use the river and its ancient Willows. This project would cost roughly £30 to complete.

3. HMP Winchester. TBC*, as it’s very much in its infancy stages currently. If this project goes ahead, it’ll be very similar to what PTES (People’s Trust for Endangered Species) are doing with HMP Humber-whereby timber is supplied to inmates, who in return turn these into Dormouse boxes. PTES gets boxes to conserving declining Hazel Dormice, and the inmates learn transferable employment skills. This’d be the same, only we’d do it with birdboxes, and it’d likely be in tandem, with the local Wildlife Trust. Without a gauge of logistics and scale, I can’t estimate costs, however if you’re interested in this project specifically, let me know and I can put aside your funds.

4. Horndean Juniors. A lovely school in Havant, Horndean Juniors have recently set up an Eco Council, and are looking to make their grounds more wildlife friendly. To help achieve this, I’ll be building x2 Robin/Wren nestboxes, x2 tit nestboxes, and several bug hotels which the pupils will be filling and installing to engage up close and personal with their local wildlife. This project will again cost around £40 again to deliver.

5. Birdbox camera. Since I started installing birdboxes, I’ve always wanted to show people what’s going on inside. And with some funding, this may finally be possible! Wicor Primary School, where I’ve volunteered for over a year, have recently built a bird hide overlooking some feeders and birdboxes I installed last year. In our latest scheme, we’d like to install a birdbox camera in a birdbox; linking it to the hide so students can see the birdbox from the outside, alongside what’s going on inside. For the best value for money, we were recommended this camera: Birdboxview Colour cctv camera fitted in nestbox. Lovely timber box with V-shaped roof (preferred by RSPB) Springwatch in the living room! (30m cable) : Amazon.co.uk: Garden. We’d need a 30m cable to connect it up, so in total this project would cost £73 to complete.

Again, every little helps, and I’m by no means expecting a large amount of donations. However, if you can’t donate anything, please do share this Crowdfunder around, it makes a huge difference!