Could you make creature (bird, bat, owl, bee, hedgehog) boxes for Stapleford Parish Council land? Or do you have any unused boxes we could have?
We have simple designs for wooden boxes for different types of creatures and are looking for residents and craft groups who would be interested in building one or more before Spring for us to put on Parish Council land (e.g. Rec, Cemetery, Basil’s Piece, Clerk’s Piece, Villedomer garden). A list of ‘how to make’ guides is available at Or perhaps you can replicate one you already have in your garden.
If you have your own untreated wood off-cuts, please use them. Alternatively, we have some which we can hand out. If you have any spare untreated off-cuts we can collect from you and distribute to other people, do get in touch.
Additionally, if anyone has a clean bird/bat/owl/bee/hedgehog box lying around in their shed and has never got round to using it, please let us know and we will happily collect it from you and put it in the village.
Please contact Michael Gatward who will co-ordinate wood and box collection/drop-off: mgatward@staplefordparishcouncil.gov.uk.
Thank you in advance!
List of ‘how to make’ guides
Note that, as in nature, dimensions don’t have to be precise; make the box to suit the materials available.
Bird boxes:
- www.rspb.org.uk/fun-and-learning/for-families/family-wild-challenge/activities/build-a-birdbox
- www.rspb.org.uk/globalassets/downloads/kids–schools/making-a-nestbox-activities.pdf
- www.bto.org/how-you-can-help/providing-birds/putting-nest-boxes-birds/make-nest-box
- www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-build-nesting-box-birds
Owl boxes:
- Barn owl – www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-nestbox/barn-owl-nestboxes/
- Tawny owl – www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/nestboxes/nestboxes-for-owls-and-kestrels/tawny-owl-boxes/
Bat boxes:
- www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/nature-on-your-doorstep/garden-activities/build-a-bat-box/
- www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-build-bat-box
- www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/default/files/2021-07/How%20to%20make%20a%20bat%20box.jpg
Hedgehog boxes:
- www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/nature-on-your-doorstep/garden-activities/build-a-hedgehog-house/
- www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/diy/how-to-make-a-hedgehog-house/ – very simple!
Bee hotel:
- www.nationaltrust.org.uk/giants-causeway/features/how-to-build-a-bee-box
- friendsoftheearth.uk/bees/make-a-bee-house – very simple!
