A generous private donation, coupled with support from the wildlife charity’s members, enabled a team of volunteers to spend the first week in January making over one hundred tree sparrow nesting boxes for use on its Northumberlandia and Weetslade Country Park sites.

Slightly smaller than the much commoner house sparrow, the tree sparrow sports a chestnut crown and black spot in the white cheek make it easier to identify.

Currently classified as a Red List species in the UK, indicating it is at risk of extinction, their population has suffered a 93% decline since 1970 due to, amongst other reasons, the loss of nesting sites, hence the conservation efforts on the two site to try and ensure their populations continue to thrive.

Now, it’s a race against time, despite the wintry weather, for volunteers to install them throughout the two sites, in time for the spring breeding season.

Peter Ernst, Northumberland Wildlife Trust estates officer says: 

“We are incredibly lucky that tree sparrows are a very welcome sight at both Northumberlandia and Weetslade, so we are doing everything we can to ensure they remain there.

“The support from our members and generous donor, coupled with the efforts of our volunteers is very much appreciated and it will be brilliant to see them fluttering in and out the boxes once spring arrives.”