Helping Our Feathered Friends
One of Bespoke Green Oak’s flagship small products is the BGO Natural Bird Box. I was really pleased when I came up with the idea of developing a BGO Bird Box as it fits in so snuggly with all that BGO stands for.
The design is simple, functional and, of course, elegant. Like everything that comes out of our workshop near Romsey, the Bird Boxes are lovingly handmade. They are made of natural, honest and recycled materials, including off-cuts of sustainably sourced English seasoned oak and recycled slate. And to underline their green credentials further, they will provide our native garden birds with 5 star accommodation to raise a family in year after year.
BGO Natural Bird Box with recycled slate and lead roof.
Bird Box Design
Designing a useful bird box is not as simple as you might think. There are lots of key design features you must get right to keep our feathered friends safe, dry and happy.
I followed the RSPB’s recommendations for details such as the internal space, height of the entrance hole from the bottom of the box (to prevent hungry pussy cats reaching in and scooping out the residents!) and the provision of drain holes. The size of the entrance hole is important too, as it will determine which particular bird species will be interested in moving in.
The RSPB also suggest that the inside surface below the entrance hole should be rough, to help the little fledglings climb out, when the time comes. I decided I could do better than simply leaving it rough. So I cut a number of grooves leading up to the hole, making a sort of baby bird ladder.
Inside detail of the BGO Bird Box, showing the baby bird ladder.
I’ve left the oak untreated, with a sawn finish so it will blend into it’s natural surroundings, without making the little birdies breath in any potentially nasty fumes from paints or stains.
To clean out the box you simply lift off the slate roof. It’s a good idea to do this each Autumn, after the feathered visitors have left, so that it’s clean and tidy, ready for next year’s guests.
Order your very own BGO Natural Bird Box today
So the BGO Natural Bird Box certainly has a lot of green credentials. With all its recycled and natural materials and of course its intended purpose of providing shelter to little love birds looking to start a family! Not only that but its stunning good looks will make the neighbours flap with envy!
BGO Natural Bird Boxes are available for £40 (plus £4.50 UK mainland P&P). Please contact me by email: peter@bespokegreenoak.co.uk or by phone: 07973 863 511 to order yours today.
Let us know who’s moved in
I’m hoping to use this blog to track the use of BGO Natural Bird Boxes across the country. If you’d like to take part in my mini ornithological survey, get yourself a BGO Natural Bird Box, put it up somewhere in your garden and send us news of any love birds that take up residence. Or even better, see if you can take some photo’s of the little chaps as they’re coming and going! I’d love to hear from you.
The RSPB’s website provides important advice on siting and cleaning your bird box.
More small BGO products can be seen in the small gallery on my website.
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