In 2020 we installed 22 wooden Tawny, Barn, & Little Owl boxes and Kestrel Boxes. Some have replaced previous dilapidated WVBS boxes in churchyard sites and others have been installed in and around members properties. The latter boxes were given to members on the premise that they will monitor them for activity and allow us access to ring any new chicks. Members were invited to make a donation to cover the cost of materials. The boxes are really excellent and we have been so lucky in that volunteers Stephanie & Paul Plaster secured the materials at attractive prices and built them for us without any payment. Huge thanks to them. Our installation team of Ray Gribble and Nick Edwards have done an excellent job of installing the boxes where required, again on a purely voluntary basis and we are very grateful for their hard work and dedication. In 2021 we are happy to consider a further small production run of wooden boxes if there is demand. Costs for making wooden boxes are as follows:-
Barn Owl - £45
Little Owl - £25
Tawny Owl - £25
Kestrel - £20
As at March 2021 we are building 13 plastic boxes for Little Owls and Barn Owls. These have been very successfully used by our friends at NarVOS Whilst they are not as aesthetically pleasing and there is an environmental down side, the benefits are:- More durable. Lighter to install. Much cheaper to build. We are building two sizes of Cylindrical Box, each being close to 1metre in length. The large one for Barn Owl will be 12” diameter and the small box for Little Owls being 9”diameter. Donations from members for building and installing these boxes are hoped for, with costs to build and install being £20 Large, £15 Small. This is what the prototype looks like, albeit colours can vary.
If anyone is interested in further information please e-mail [email protected] for more details.