Nest box for peregrines (UK)

[Donna]

Published Date: 30 October 2009
By Staff Copy
WORK to to install a nest box to attract peregrine falcons to Stamford has been completed – thanks in part to Batman and Robin.
Stamford Chamber of Trade, the town partnership and the town council, have worked together to install the box in St Mary’s Church tower last week.

It is hoped the peregrines will help reduce the increasing pigeon population and be a boom for tourism.

Cedars Steeplejacks, of Grantham, installed the box – with Batman and Robin integral in the work!

Richard Mitchell, a bat expert and predictably known as Batman, worked with his colleagues, Robin Saly and Will Skellett to install the box.

Chamber president Tim Lee said: "If the peregrines nest here, it will be a beautiful natural asset for the town."

He said the birds already nest in Ketton, Lincoln, Louth and Grantham.

The birds almost became extinct 30 years ago but are now protected and numbers have hit 1,400 nesting pairs nationwide.

The chamber was given the go-ahead by the church owners, the Diocese of Lincoln, to install the box.