Home-sweet-home for Linton’s birds

WITHIN a couple of months, you could be taking a map-guided walking tour of bird-friendly Linton.

The Linton and District Progress Association’s garden group are encouraging the community to build and install visible bird houses or nesting boxes at their homes, or within the broader streetscape.

LDPA’s Mardi Reilly said the project’s aim is to create a new “point of interest” within the town, and engage and “embrace” members of the community that might usually be isolated.

“It’s to get the community together, so people who are not normally involved can perhaps become more connected and included, chat to other people, enjoy a walk around, and generally be more community minded,” she said.

“Rather than just the same group of us being involved in everything, we know there are people around that could do with more company, and they have untouched talents to offer the town.

“This is a stepping stone for people to come forward, let us know what they can do, and how they’d like to see the town as we move forward.”

Residents are welcome to build a basic, decorative bird house or a neutral nesting box for a lamp post or their garden.

Alternatively, they could also help with the installation of more nesting boxes which will be put around Edinburgh Reserve.

LDPA’s Phil Papas is currently researching the most appropriate designs for the various native species living in the Reserve precinct.

“The differences between the houses and boxes would be in their sizes. The nesting boxes will be designed specifically; longer and narrower with a smaller hole, or larger, depending on the birds we’re trying to encourage,” Ms Reilly said.

“We want the nesting boxes to blend in with the native fauna and flora around there, so they’re more attractive to them, and don’t stand out so much that they encourage introduced species.”

Graham Davies, Ms Reilly’s partner, sparked this movement, building a decorative birdhouse which was put in their home garden and admired by friends.

“Then, Graham went ahead and built another lovely one which is in our community garden,” Ms Reilly said.

“One of our locals had decorative bird boxes near her house, so that started the push for more decorative ones around the town, for local and tourist interest, and the idea of a walking trail.”

Ms Reilly is hoping the children from Linton Primary School will get involved, as well as all-ages community volunteers, so the first walking tours can be on the move by Autumn.

The LDPA gardening group would appreciate any involvement.

“We’re going to have two or three basic designs, and Graham will be willing to assist people to make them. We may even offer flat-pack, where people can put together supplied pieces and paint them,” she said.

“That would be a wonderful way for the children to be involved. I think it’s going to be quite pretty.”