Natural England

Local families flocked to West Hoe Park when word spread that 100 free homes were up for grabs.

The offer of 100 free nesting boxes to boost the city’s bird population was part of the BBC’s “Breathing Places” campaign backed by Plymouth City Council and Natural England.

Staff from the Council’s Parks Services department and Natural England were on hand to give advice about how to encourage more wild birds to set up home in city gardens.

The nest boxes and kits were supplied by the BBC and Natural England and local children helped Council staff put some of them up in the park’s trees.

Councillor Michael Leaves, Cabinet member for Streetscene and the Environmental Regulation, said: “The aim of the day was to encourage more people to erect bird boxes to compensate for the gradual erosion of natural nesting sites. It was a real joy to see so many youngsters getting actively involved and being so enthusiastic about it.”

Natural England Ecologist Pete Stevens said: “We are pleased to support Plymouth in its work for communities and wildlife and hope to collaborate on more events during the year.”

The nesting boxes are specially designed with a removable section so they can be used both for small garden birds such as blue tits as well as larger birds, including blackbirds and robins, which prefer open fronted boxes.

More than 60 species of birds have been recorded using nest boxes. In a good year a well positioned box can have up to 15 blue tits fledging from it.