I love this.

It’s obviously a nest box. It’s less obvious that it’s been occupied for the last two years running by a pair of great tits bringing up their family. This gives me great pleasure and even greater satisfaction.

It’s positioned in the north-facing side of my eco-fence. A fence built with waste materials from a sawmill. Scrap that was going to be chopped into small pieces to make kindling until I rocked up and said “that’s exactly what I want – how much is it?” We agreed a nominal price that covered its carriage to our house and it was mine! The fence has been designed to allow free-flow of wind through it so that it’s less vulnerable to blowing over in our high winds. There is a void about 3” thick between the two outer surfaces and this has been planted with climbing plants, including clematis, rose, honeysuckle and jasmine, the intention is that these help to soften the look and provide habitats and food sources for small animals, especially invertebrates. Finally, nest boxes and other nesting materials have been added and the whole thing becomes not just a functional item to screen the utility area of the garden but also a little haven for small critters, whether feathered or otherwise.

It was put in five years ago and the colour of the wood has toned down and weathered beautifully. The plants now romp through its innards like blood vessels delivering the life blood to the structure and it’s home to a wide range of fauna, including the great tits that fly back and forth with their beaks stuffed full of invertebrates for their young. This year’s brood have just fledged and we’ve put up a “to let” board to try to attract a late nest from an amorous pair of sparrows (or indeed any other birds that want to try for one last brood this year). It’s comfortable, sheltered from the prevailing wind and close to a perennially full food source (my bird table). With any luck, we’ll get some takers!