Biodiversity and Wildlife News

Barn Owls and Newts

Apart from habitat loss, it is lack of nest sites that limits the population of Barn Owls in this country. Many old barns have become 'des-res' for humans, and large hollow trees are scarce, writes Janet Spiller.

The Barn Owl has been identified as needing a helping hand and is a Wokingham District Council 'Local Biodiversity Action Plan' species. As a result of this designation, five nest boxes have been installed in the parish.

These have been paid for by a donation from the Parish Council and a grant from the Environment Agency. The boxes have been placed in areas with the best potential territories for the owls. They need rough, tussocky grasslands and field margins that support the field voles on which they prey.

Pond surveys

Last spring and early summer, eight ponds in the parish were surveyed for amphibians. The main aim was to locate the breeding ponds of the Great Crested Newt that is known to be present in Hurst.

This rare newt is very vulnerable to habitat loss. It has specific requirements of large open, sunny ponds without fish that predate its eggs.

Of the ponds surveyed, only one was found to contain the newts. Unfortunately, many of the old ponds have become unsuitable, due to shading by trees that have grown up around them. More ponds will be surveyed next year.