TO celebrate National Nest Box Week ( February 14 to 21), the wildlife campaign group, Wildlife Friendly Otley acknowledged the contribution of two of its keenest supporters by presenting them with brand new nest boxes.

National Nest Box Week is an established part of the birdlife calendar. Celebrated in February every year, it puts the spotlight on breeding birds and asks everyone to put up more nest boxes in their local area, because British birds are short of nesting holes,

During the week Wildlife Friendly Otley’s education officer, Neil Griffin presented new nest boxes to two of its Wildlife Pledge supporters; family pledge champions the Barrowclough family and business pledge champion Rob Tindall, funeral director of Otley Funeralcare.

They all undertook several of the pledge challenges in the #mywildlifepledge campaign organised by Wildlife Friendly Otley during last year to encourage more wildlife in Otley gardens. The pledges included setting up bird feeders, providing ponds and turning over some of their garden to wildflower beds and rewilding.

Kate and Chris Barrowclough involved their children Rosie and Fin in their wildlife pledges. Kate said:“We all really enjoyed doing the pledge challenges and it gave the whole family a real focus for something different and worthwhile, especially during the first lockdown. We have definitely had more birds in our garden and a couple of hedgehogs. The summer saw a much more colourful garden with the wild flowers, with more butterflies and bees and our pond has established plants now and we had a few frogs.”

Rob Tindall transformed the large plain garden area behind the funeral premises on Cross Green by digging a pond, putting up nest boxes and birdfeeders and creating a wildflower garden to add colour and attract butterflies and bees.

He said: “I really enjoyed creating all the wildlife features and got a real kick out of seeing loads more wildlife. Nature is its own reward providing comfort and inspiration, especially during the pandemic.”

Neil Griffin added: “Wildlife has a housing shortage too as gardens, parks and woodland are neater and tidier than they used to be, depriving birds of natural holes to find a home. The populations of many bird species are down as a result of this housing shortage. Our gardens have huge potential for tackling the decline suffered by birds, hedgehogs, bees and insects. The #mywildlifepldge campaign provides all the information on our website that you need to help. Don’t forget that nest boxes are good for us too. Spending time in the garden, putting up or making your own next box and watching birds make themselves at home are all great stress-busters.

“We’d like to thank all our pledge supporters and also Wharfedale Mens Shed who hand made the nest boxes for us.”

More information about the #mywildlifepledge campaign, nest boxes and other ways of helping wildlife can be found at www.wildlifefriendlyotley.org.uk and at www.nestboxweek.com