THERE could soon be a few more residents around Headley Down after a community project to build more than 250 bird boxes and wildlife homes.

The project was run by Woodlands Hall, on the Heatherlands Estate, and involved groups and individuals from across the community.

Using £12,000 provided by the Tesco Bags of Help scheme, a supply of craft materials, tools and timber were purchased for use at the workshops.

The boxes were built and painted by the children’s club, St Francis Church and the village pre-school under the supervision of wildlife experts from the Deadwater Valley Trust.

Each person taking part made two boxes - one to take home and one to place in the newly formed Headley Down Nature Reserve on land near the community building.

Village residents formed the Headley Down Nature Reserve Trust to manage the area. The group placed the bird, bat, woodpecker, owl, bee and bug boxes in the new nature reserve.

Participants will receive a numbered map, showing where their wildlife box has been placed, so they can keep an eye on it and see who moves in. The wildlife boxes, both in the nature reserve and in gardens, will help to increase the biodiversity across the area.