Making a difference for habitats

Buy photos » Volunteers David Turner and Richard Edwards help ecologist Dr Marl Robinson put up an owl nest box. Photo by Marcus Mingins 0712046MMR Order this picture at www.buyphotos247.com

KIND-HEARTED Droitwich canal volunteers took to the towpath this week to boost the habitat around the town’s historic canals.

Together with British Waterways ecologist Dr Mark Robinson, the volunteers marked the British Trust for Ornithology’s National Nest Box Week by installing a barn own nest box.

Their efforts are part of the wider on-going enhancement of the habitat along Droitwich’s canals, which has previously included installing an otter holt, planting trees and cutting back the reed bed.

Volunteers have also created a protected habitat area for amphibians, such as the Great Crested Newt, as part of the work.

A spokesperson said: “We’ve had sightings of an otter there recently too so it’s a bit of a wildlife hotspot, even in deepest darkest winter.”