Many couples looking to raise a family are on the search for the perfect home and the owls native to Bracknell Forest are no different.
Towards the end of last year, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) completed works to underground two kilometres of overhead line. A portion of this work took place across the scrub and open grassland at Garth Meadows - one of Bracknell Forest's greenspaces - and the future of the area's owl population was a careful consideration of the project and the team involved.
The £120,000 investment saw eight of the old wooden poles, that held the existing overhead line, removed from the edge of the meadow, enabling the 33kV cable that supplies electricity to customers in the local area to be buried underground in specially constructed trenches, and that's when the Rangers and the SSEN project team spotted an opportunity to give a boost to nesting birds.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks Construction Manager, John Wright explains: "Our initial plans had been to remove all of the existing poles, but after discussion with the rangers we decided to retain two of them, reducing their height to around five metres so that nesting boxes for owls could be built at the top. The height and locations of these poles were perfect for the birds as they provided them with safety and easy access to the forest itself, and allowed people who were enjoying the greenspace to see these beautiful birds without disturbing them."
In addition to helping build the nesting boxes, the SSEN project team were responsible for reinstating a special grass within the wild flower area, so that the undergrounding works were concealed beneath a natural environment.
Liz Vango-Smith, one of Bracknell Forest's rangers was instrumental in assisting the SSEN team with their environmental endeavours: "We knew the works to underground the overhead line would improve the outlook of Garth Meadows and were pleased it also presented an opportunity to increase nesting opportunities for local birds of prey."
"We'd love to see a pair of nesting barn owls take over their new accommodation for Valentine's Day, but we have to wait until the summer before we can check the boxes and see if they are being used to raise the area's next generation of nocturnal residents."
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks is investing over £15m in a project which will see the undergrounding of 90km of overhead lines in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, National Parks and National Scenic Areas in the north of Scotland and central southern England. If you would like to find out more, or how you can apply, click here.