Three local primary schools will be welcoming some feathered visitors, thanks to bird boxes donated by the Otter Valley Association.
The 'eco groups' at St Peter's in Budleigh Salterton, Otterton Primary and Drake's Primary in East Budleigh have received nesting boxes for robins, wrens, house sparrows, great tits and blue tits. The boxes are designed specifically for the individual species; for example, the blue tit boxes have a metal plate around the entrance to prevent woodpeckers from enlarging the hole to get at the baby birds. The Otter Valley Association (OVA) will also be giving the schools bee 'hotels' and hedgehog boxes.
The OVA is also working with Rick Lockwood, a ranger on the Otter Estuary which has just been officially declared a National Nature Reserve, and will soon be donating further nest boxes to the schools for swifts and tawny owls. It's also producing information leaflets for people wanting to attract more wildlife into their gardens.
The Otter Valley Association is a charity that works with local councils and environmental organisations to conserve the area's architecture, landscapes, and wildlife. It also promotes interest in local history. The OVA organises guided walks, talks and other events; for more information visit www.ova.org.uk
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