Kind-hearted colleagues from Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) have been working to help boost the Barn Owl population in Oxfordshire.
Thirteen years ago the distribution network operator buried cabling that ran across part of the Standlake Common Nature Reserve and - with help from the Lower Windrush Valley Project - used the poles that had previously held the overhead lines as platforms for owl and kestrel boxes; providing the birds with a safe environment to nest and rear their young.
Earlier this year it was noted that two of the boxes, which had been successfully used by pairs of breeding barn owls over the years, were in need of refurbishment. The height that the boxes need to be installed can be difficult for the reserve's wardens to reach, so - while working in the local area - SSEN engineers took the opportunity to remove the old, and now empty, boxes and replace them with new adobes the birds would be proud to call home.
Chelsie Bickford, Customer Community Advisor for the area said: "When we took part in the original undergrounding project to strengthen the surrounding area's electricity supply, we had no idea of the benefits it would reap for the local bird population at Standlake Common Nature Reserve."
"Thirteen years on, it's wonderful to still have a working partnership with the reserve and to be able to assist in situations like this. We know the original owl boxes have been used many times to raise and fledge owlets over the years and we look forward to finding out if these new boxes will provide warm and welcoming homes for future generations."
Lucy Kennery, Lower Windrush Valley Project Manager added: "The two original Barn Owl nest boxes have been used regularly over the years and had seen better days. We're very grateful to SSEN for helping us install the boxes which would have been an expensive job otherwise. We hope that they will be used by local Barn Owls for many years to come."
SSEN is investing over £15m in a project which will see the undergrounding of 90k of Outstanding Natural Beauty, National Parks and National Scenic Areas in the north of Scotland and central southern England. To find out more, please go to: https://www.ssen.co.uk/Undergrounding/