Sand Martins migrating to the Tame Valley now have a new custom made hotel at Tameside Local Nature Reserve, Tamworth a site owned by Tamworth Borough Council and managed by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and Tameside Wildlife Conservation Group
The artificial sand martin bank was built in February 2017 and will provide a valuable home to this summer visiting bird that migrates from parts of Africa, to breed in the UK. Sand Martins like to nest in river banks and create burrows that can be as deep as 1m. However, the unforgiving River Tame rises quickly during summer storm events and this floods the natural nest sites in the river bank.
This vulnerable species now has a new home installed on the edge of the floodplain, with the nest burrow entrances above the flood levels ensuring that our feathered friends have every opportunity to successfully breed and raise their young without the risk of being flooded.
We still have some landscaping work to do but the Sand Martin Hotel is ready and waiting for its first springtime guests to burrow in!
Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Partners involved: Tame Valley Wetlands Landscape Partnership – Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, Tamworth Borough Council, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, Tameside Wildlife Conservation Group, Environment Agency