CHILDREN will be able to monitor wildlife in the borough with their hand-crafted bird-boxes.

Vinay Vyas, Community Project Officer for Slough Borough Council, said: "The Haymill Valley nature reserve is a little green gem set within a built up area. Over the years, we have been working very hard to make it an even better asset for the local residents. The upkeep of these nature reserves are reliant on volunteers and we need to generate an interest with the local community.

"With that in mind, I though of this Community Bird Box event. I thought engaging a younger cohort of residents in this way should get them interested and involved in the reserve a positive way."

The event, which was sponsored by Osborne Property Services, was well attended and saw several young volunteers assembling flat-packed bird boxes made from recycled waste wood.

Mr Vyas said: "All the bird boxes made by the youngsters have been numbered and their e-mail addresses noted down. Around a dozen bird boxes were completed, which Berks, Bucks, and Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) volunteers will now arrange for installation.

"The plan is to plot the locations of these boxes on a map and let their ‘builders’ know where they have been installed. Those involved will then able to monitor their individual bird boxes. BBOWT will be doing annual audits of the bird boxes too, and the plan is to send updates about nesting patterns to the group concerned."

The BBOWT volunteers hold regular events in the reserve on the last Sunday of each month to help maintain the area. If you are interested in joining these events, email Daniel Akam at danielakam@bbowt.org.uk.