Kenilworth Castle prepares to welcome some very small new residents

[dutchman]

The bird and bat boxes will be put up in the coming weeks



KENWORTH Castle is preparing to welcome some very small but important new residents.

Thirty three assorted bird and bat boxes have recently been acquired to support wildlife living in and around the historic site, and they will be installed across the surrounding woodland in the coming weeks.

The new boxes are designed to attract a wide range of species including robins, treecreepers, owls and bats, alongside many other birds that depend on safe sheltered nesting spaces. Woodland around old stone buildings such as Kenilworth Castle can be rich in insects and natural cavities, making it an ideal habitat for these creatures, but additional nesting sites can make a crucial difference, particularly during the breeding season.

Kenilworth Castle has stood for nearly nine hundred years. Once a royal fortress and later a grand palace, its ruins are now woven into a landscape of meadows, lakes and mature trees. This mixture of history and nature makes the site valuable not only for visitors but also for local wildlife, from birds that hunt along the water’s edge to bats that roost in crevices after dusk.

Early spring is an especially important time for conservation work. Many birds are beginning to scout for nesting sites, and bats are emerging more frequently as temperatures rise and insects become more abundant. Providing secure boxes now gives animals a chance to settle before breeding gets fully under way, helping young chicks and pups grow in safer conditions away from predators and harsh weather.

The project at Kenilworth Castle also highlights what people can do closer to home. Garden bird boxes placed on walls or trees, ideally facing north or east and away from strong sunlight, can encourage small birds to nest. Leaving areas of gardens slightly wild, with logs, leaf piles or native plants, supports insects that birds and bats rely on for food. Avoiding pesticides, keeping ponds topped up and planting hedgerows or flowering shrubs can all help create miniature wildlife havens.

https://leamingtonobserver.co.uk/news/kenilworth-castle-prepares-to-welcome-some-very-small-new-residents-60041/