A home for wildlife .

My large garden is too big for me to manage now so rather than be a gardener I manage  accommodation for wildlife.  

For many years I have had bird boxes which have gradually increased in number.  I have a wildlife pond which has  been home to amphibians, insects and other small pond creatures. 

I have many mature trees and a big hedge which provide food and shelter for birds, insects and small mammals.  Also I like to plant flowers which are good for insects and birds.

This week has been bird box maintenance week with the help of Richard https://www.projectnestbox.co.uk/  

Box number one is an old box which needed replacing.  When Richard opened it a great tit flew out and surprised him.  There was already a nest in there but no eggs yet. Instead of replacing it he just fixed it more securely to the fence and left it.  This box had been used by great tits last year but sadly the eggs didn't hatch.  Something must have happened to the adults to make them abandon the nest. 

Box number 2 is a couple of years old and was used by a pair of bluetits last year and I sat on my patio and watched them fledge.  There was no new nesting material in it now so Richard emptied it and left it.  Hopefully it isn't too late for another pair of bluetits to find it.  This box was used by hornets a few years ago.

Box number 3 is newly fitted on a fence post at the end of the hedge.  So many small birds in and out of the hedge all the time so hope they find it and like it. 

Box number 4 was new last year when  it was a replacement for a broken one.  It's a very good site as it has had great tits using it for a few years. Not in use yet but old nest removed, so finger crossed it will be used again.  I really should have cleaned them out earlier. 

Box number 5 has been in this position for several years but never been used. Will leave it for this year and see what happens

Box number 6 is high up in an oak tree where I can't see in it. Richard had his ladder and checked it out. It has the start of a new bluetit nest inside. Apparently it has small feathers in it, which  great tits don't use as nesting material, so must be bluetits. The previous box on this tree was home to honeybees one summer and when they left it there were several honeycombs in it.  The following winter it was full of leopard slugs YUCK! This is a replacement box fitted last year.

Box number 7 has been a successful one having great tits in it for a few years now.  this year they have already started building a lovely nest so shouldn't bee long before there are eggs in it.  It is lined with sheep's wool and some kind of fur.  Looks like  ginger cat to me but no way they would find cat fur in that quantity.  Maybe someone has been grooming a dog and thrown the fur out. 

Boxes 8 and 9 are open front boxes which are preferred by robins,  They like their boxes to be more secluded than the tits do so they have been moved to more suitable positions. 

Box number 10 is a new one fitted high up on the fence.

I think that's enough for today.  I will be writing again tomorrow about more home in my garden!