Around the County there are many local groups working to conserve wildlife in their area.

Here Jeni Henton of the Rushcliffe Barn Owl Project explains what the group does and why new volunteers are always welcome.

The Rushcliffe Barn Owl Project aims to increase barn owl numbers in the Rushcliffe area and was set up in 1995 as part of Rushcliffe Borough Council's commitment to the European Nature Conservation Year and to the Local Agenda 21 Plan.

It has been estimated that during the last 50 years the barn owl population nationally has dropped by 69% - mainly due to loss of habitat, change in farming practices, increasing fragmentation of the countryside, road deaths, modern rodenticides, bad weather and drowning. Their natural nesting and roosting sites in the form of mature hedgerow trees and suitable farm buildings are steadily diminishing. In an effort to reverse the situation the project members have been busy, particularly over the last twelve months, erecting nest boxes on farms throughout the Borough.

It's a slow process as initial site visits have to be carried out (by kind invitation of enthusiastic farmers and land owners) to assess whether or not there is sufficient habitat - a pair of barn owls require at least 20 acres of permanent rough grassland over which to hunt. Isolated hedgerow trees are essential. The location needs to be well away from busy roads - half the annual death rate is attributable to collision with traffic. If the site is suitable a decision is made as to the type and number of boxes required and a return visit is made.

At present the group are inundated with requests for site visits. The group is also planning an ambitious Millennium Project, the erection of tree, pole and interior boxes along the length of the Grantham Canal. At the same time, visits to existing boxes (38 so far) to carry out maintenance work have to be made. If all this weren't enough, project co-ordinator Clive James attends local events and visits many groups including schools, to give talks, invariably accompanied by his barn owls 'Speedy' & 'Twilight'.

At present the 'team' consists of four regulars working every Friday morning (weather permitting). In order to continue the Project's work additional practical assistance is needed. If you, would like to become involved in really worthwhile activity, know of suitable nest sites or have recently seen barn owls in the Rushcliffe please contact either

Clive James on 0115 974 4729 or Jeni Henton on 0115 921 2400

Copy of article in Nottinghamshire wildlife (April 2000)