The first Saturday in February 2026 once again saw 12 members from Maryburgh going into the Community Woodland to help with the monthly clean-up. Today’s activity was to place bat and bird boxes throughout the woodland. The volunteers included some of Maryburgh Mens Shed who had been making the bird and bat boxes over the winter months. The weather was cold but dry most of the time and all the volunteers armed with warm clothing, extending ladders, hammers and aluminium nails, to avoid damaging any of the trees, set off throughout the woodland.  The volunteers split up into three groups, with each group taking some of the bat and bird boxes to put up. Volunteers from the Mens Shed also made a red squirrel box and owl box, but due to the size and weight of these some thought would need to be given about the best way to get these up the trees.

Putting up Bat Boxes – Image by Elsbeth Neil

The Work Begins

Suitable trees were identified and a suitable bat or bird box selected to be placed on the tree. These were positioned to avoid direct sunlight and at a suitable height depending on the type of occupant we wished to encourage. Some birds like to be high off the ground, while Robins prefer nesting closer to the ground. The bats like their roosts around the tree to allow them to relocate if the heat of the sun overheats their initial choice.  The ladders were placed against the tree and making sure the ladder footing was firmly positioned to ensure the tree didn’t move or shake. One member of the group slowly climbed

Bird Box being placed in tree – Image Elsbeth Neil

the ladder to make sure it didn’t move, while a second member of the group held the bottom of the ladder and made sure it was safe. The remaining group members were ready to hand up the tools to fix the bird or bat box in place.

Refreshments for All

After an hour and a half later, all the boxes were positioned around the woodland and the volunteers were able to return to the open green space by Birch Drive. Other members of the Woodland Group had tea and coffee with rolls filled with sausages, black pudding and bacon ready for everyone.  After the rolls, home baking was again provided, all this was within the shelter of a Gazebo erected by members of the woodland group to keep the volunteers dry from the rain. More tea and coffee was available from the back of a car, equipped with a portable gas cooker.

More Help Needed 

More help is always needed to maintain and improve the woodland for the benefit of everyone in the community. If you cannot spare a couple of hours to join us for some fun in the woodland, why not help out in other ways. You can now make a donation using our PayPal online system. All donations will go to help with the future development of our community woodland.