Help boost House Martin numbers in Hampshire by taking part in a pilot project

Residents in towns and villages in Hampshire are being invited to boost the breeding success of House Martins, thanks to South East Water funding 100 artificial, double nest cups.

Hampshire Ornithological Society (HOS) is trialling the artificial nest cup scheme, with partners Nest Cup Box and Hampshire Swifts, and funded by the water company. If successful, it could be widened in future years.

Homeowners in and around Basingstoke, Alton, Aldershot, Farnborough, Fleet, Bordon and Petersfield are invited to take part. The project aims to install 100 safe, durable nest sites for House Martins on eligible homes in the South East Water supply area, to help them breed successfully.

House Martins, known for nesting in loose colonies, benefit from these artificial homes because they often struggle to find suitable nest sites or materials to build their own.

Volunteer coordinator for the HOS Hampshire House Martin Project, Nigel said: "Artificial nest cups provide House Martins with safe nest sites and save them time and effort building their own. This is especially important when damp mud is hard to find and where houses have smooth, plastic soffits.

"We've allocated nest cups to properties in Bramley, Alton, Hook, Petersfield, Bordon and Sherbourne St John, and would welcome further requests from these places and across South East Water's supply area.

"House Martins prefer to nest close to other House Martins, in loose colonies, so we ideally want to hear from people who live or work within about 500m of an existing colony."

South East Water’s Environmental Performance Officer, Patrick Austin, said: “Taking part in this project shows our commitment to protecting and enhancing the environment and the wildlife that resides within it.

“The funding we have provided for this project will hopefully support the breeding of House Martins and help to reverse their declining numbers.”

To find out more about the eligibility criteria and to apply, please visit: southeastwater.co.uk/housemartins