News
Carillion help boost Suffolk's barn owl
23rd September 2009
The support services and construction company Carillion have finished installing five barn owl pole boxes for Suffolk Wildlife Trust in the south and east of Suffolk: on private land in Grundisburgh, at a community woodland in Felixstowe, in community open space at Waldringfield and on two allotments at Capel St Mary.
The individual and community groups involved had previously contacted the Trust expressing their interest in having a barn owl box on their land,” explains SWT development officer Michael Strand.
Carillion, who work in partnership with Suffolk County Council, became members of Suffolk Wildlife Trust and received a presentation on their work from Michael Strand. “As a result we became aware of the logistical challenge of erecting owl boxes and the Carillion Street Lighting Manager, Terry Capps, was keen to offer our services in support of this worthwhile project," says Carillion’s Senior Highways Operations Manager David Alchin.
To start with SWT’s Michael Strand did a recce with Colin Carter and Greg King, who heads Carillion’s Ipswich team, around potential sites to inspect their suitability and assess the various logistics involved. “Then Colin and I fixed the boxes to the poles and SWT’s volunteer team lead by Gee Harvey prepared the ground at each site. Carillion followed up and installed the pole boxes using their vehicles - all in communication with landowners,” explains Michael.
Carillion are Gold corporate members and this year they adopted Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s Snape Marshes reserve coming out on various Green Team events. We have also won a grant from the Carillion Natural Habitats Fund which has helped us to access further funding for the development of Snape Marshes – which is a fantastic wildlife site being home to barn owl, otter, snipe, orchid and a host of other wetland species.
Suffolk Wildlife Trust is grateful to BT who donated the poles. The barn owl boxes were purchased by the community groups and individual involved and Carillion provided their services for the project free of charge.
If your company or organisation is interested in hearing more about the Trust and in ways you can work together with us please contact Michael Strand on Michael.strand@suffolkwildlifetrust.org or call 01473 890089.
ENDS
Press contacts: Michael Strand for SWT on number above or Carilllion’s Donna Halfpenny on 01902 318106.
