It might have been a chilly February morning but that didn't stop hundreds of listeners taking part in BBC Radio Solent's Nest Box Challenge on Sunday. As part of National Nest Box Week, the BBC teamed up with the British Trust for Ornithology and the Dorset Wildlife Trust to give two hundred listeners the chance to build their very own nest box.
 | | The Radio Solent team enjoy the day! |
Seven year old Ryan Matisse told me he was proud of his: "I want to get robins, chaffinches and blue tits in my box." His dad is happy that his son is such a keen bird watcher: "Ryan loves walking the nature trail near our home in Wimborne. That's where we're going to put it so that we can see what birds we can attract." Steve Davis of the Dorset Wildlife Trust explained why nest boxes are so important:
 | | Eight year old Max works on his nest box |
"Dead wood, and trees with holes and cracks in are ideal for nesting. Now they get chopped down or taken away because they look messy or dangerous." "It's increasingly difficult for birds to find somewhere suitable to nest. Anyone who puts a box like this in their garden is giving a massive boost to bird life." If you've missed the Nest Box Challenge but would love to attract birds into your garden too, take a look at other events outlined on the Breathing Places website. This is the best time of year to put up new boxes in time for the start of spring. Each box will be part of the British Trust for Ornithology's survey into nesting habits across the UK. | 
