Barn owl project hailed a success
An innovative project to increase the number of barn owls in mid-Cornwall’s china clay area has proved a success with the number of sites used by the birds almost tripling.
Imerys teamed up with the Barn Owl Trust five years ago to help create new nesting sites and improve the natural habitat for barn owls in and around their clay works. The project was part of Imerys’ commitment to enhance biodiversity on their land and also proved a valuable testing ground for new techniques developed by the Barn Owl Trust to support increased bird numbers.
When the initiative started in 2001, Barn Owl Trust staff confirmed the presence of three sites used by barn owls for roosting within the project area boundary. After five years of dedicated conservation work they were able to confirm eight roost sites and two breeding sites during 2005. Barn owls have successfully bred four times since the initiative began, each time using a nest box specifically erected as part of the project.
Imerys spokesman Ivor Bowditch said: ‘Imerys are fully committed to a series of restoration projects across their landholding, including recreated Cornish broad-leafed woodland and new heathland habitats, and are working hard to enhance biodiversity. This initiative with the Barn Owl Trust has been a huge success and we are proud to have been part of the project, which has seen substantially increased evidence of these beautiful birds living and breeding in Cornwall.’
Amy Oliver, conservation officer with the Barn Owl Trust, commented: ‘It has been a real pleasure working with Imerys in such a dramatic landscape, and we’re delighted that all the hard work has paid off. There is great scope for further development and we are really pleased that Imerys will be assigning one of their staff to continue the conservation effort.’
Imerys teamed up with the Barn Owl Trust five years ago to help create new nesting sites and improve the natural habitat for barn owls in and around their clay works. The project was part of Imerys’ commitment to enhance biodiversity on their land and also proved a valuable testing ground for new techniques developed by the Barn Owl Trust to support increased bird numbers.
When the initiative started in 2001, Barn Owl Trust staff confirmed the presence of three sites used by barn owls for roosting within the project area boundary. After five years of dedicated conservation work they were able to confirm eight roost sites and two breeding sites during 2005. Barn owls have successfully bred four times since the initiative began, each time using a nest box specifically erected as part of the project.
Imerys spokesman Ivor Bowditch said: ‘Imerys are fully committed to a series of restoration projects across their landholding, including recreated Cornish broad-leafed woodland and new heathland habitats, and are working hard to enhance biodiversity. This initiative with the Barn Owl Trust has been a huge success and we are proud to have been part of the project, which has seen substantially increased evidence of these beautiful birds living and breeding in Cornwall.’
Amy Oliver, conservation officer with the Barn Owl Trust, commented: ‘It has been a real pleasure working with Imerys in such a dramatic landscape, and we’re delighted that all the hard work has paid off. There is great scope for further development and we are really pleased that Imerys will be assigning one of their staff to continue the conservation effort.’
