New Homes Created for Declining Sand Martins at Amwell Nature Reserve

New Homes Created for Declining Sand Martins at Amwell Nature Reserve - Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust

2 people standing next to a bank of nests in a beautiful blue sky — Kathryn Dunnett, Reserves Officer and Dan Townsend, Senior Reserves Officer by the Sand Martin Bank © Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust

Discover how new nesting banks aim to boost one of Hertfordshire's birds of conservation concern.

Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust has created multiple new potential nesting homes for Sand Martins at Amwell Nature Reserve, near Ware, giving the bird species a much-needed opportunity to establish a new breeding colony in Hertfordshire.

The purpose-built nesting banks have been designed to mimic the steep, sandy cliffs that Sand Martins naturally dig into, creating burrows for nesting. Each bank contains specially created nesting chambers that the birds can excavate and occupy, with the potential to support generations of breeding birds as the chambers can be replenished with fresh sand each year.