Nesting season starts this month. If you’d like to encourage small birds to make their home in your garden, roll out the red carpet for them with a homemade nesting box.
This nesting box project by The Woodland Trust is a lovely, simple box to make that you can complete in an afternoon. Visit their page for the full instructions and to find lots more inspiration for encouraging birds to visit your outdoor space.
You will need
A plank of untreated wood, measuring 1.4-1.5m in length, 15cm in width and at least 15mm thick for insulation
A saw, drill, screws and nails
A pencil and tape measure
A strip of rubber
How to make the nest box
Measure, mark up and then saw your wood into the following six sections:
• 2 Sides: one cut at 25cm x 15cm x 20cm, and another cut at 20cm x 15cm x 25cm (both pieces needs cutting at a diagonal so that the roof piece sits on a slant - this is for rain to run off)
• Front – 20cm x 15cm x 20cm
• Roof – 21cm x 15cm x 21cm
• Back – 35cm x 15cm x 35cm
• Base – 12cm x 15cm x 12cmUse a drill to make a round entrance hole in the front piece. It should sit near the top and the size of the hole depends on the species you’d like to attract – 32mm is great for house sparrows, 25mm for blue tits.
Drill some small holes into the base to help with drainage.
Once all the wood is cut, sand it to ensure it’s safe for the birds.
Nail everything, excluding the roof, together.
Attach the roof using screws. Use a waterproof rubber strip as a hinge so that the roof can be easily lifted up for cleaning.
Decorate your box with non-toxic water-based paints to finish it or leave it as is.
If you’ve been inspired to invite more birds into your garden, you’ll want to read our feature ‘Chirp Appeal’ in our February issue, from page 106.
Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe
