Six owl boxes are being put up in and around Tipton St John, thanks to the Eager Beavers environmental group, the Ottery Men’s Shed and Ottery Town Council. 

One nesting box for tawny owls has already been fixed high up in a tree at the Sundial Nursing Home and the other boxes will be sited in the near future. 

Lisette Johnston from Eager Beavers said: “We have two or three more tawny owl boxes, one little owl and one barn owl box left to site.  

“We are thinking that one additional tawny owl box can be placed in Tipton, up towards the Goyle where many residents have reported hearing the familiar 'twit twoo' call of the tawny. Another will go in Venn Ottery, as unfortunately very recently two mature oaks have been felled there and the tawny owls may be without a home. 

“According to Devon Wildlife Trust, there have been sightings of little owls in Metcombe, so the box will probably go there. 

“The barn owl box will go to Lancercombe; it's an outside box to replace one that has deteriorated and used to house barn owls in the past. 

“All owls are unfortunately in decline; they are losing their habitat with intensive farming, fragmentation and human disturbance. Unfortunately, many owls are also killed on roads and then there is the loss of traditional roost and nest sites. The Barn Owl Trust has suggested allowing rough grassland to provide more opportunity for hunting and providing artificial nest sites - hence the boxes.” 

According to the RSPB, about half the UK population of barn owls now nest in manmade boxes. As trees are felled or blown over, and buildings are knocked down or converted, larger birds are finding it more and more difficult to find nesting sites. 

Lisette added: “Thanks go to the Ottery Town Council for the funding, to the Men's Shed in Ottery for making the boxes, to the members of EagerBeaversTSJ (especially Ed Brougham) who have helped with organising the siting of the boxes and the people who have allowed us to put the boxes up on their land.”