Barn owl update
Following on from our item in the May issue about a pair of barn owls nesting in one of our monitored owl boxes, disappointingly just one egg out of the four hatched. Liam Edwards of L & L Wildlife Monitoring and registered BTO bird ringer Stuart Downhill took charge of the important job of weighing and ringing the six-week-old barn owl chick, ably assisted by Trust Ranger Heather. A wing check was also carried out. All the data collected is recorded and gives us an insight into how well we are managing the estate.
Latest news is that the owls have bred again – at time of going to press, two more chicks are being raised. A second box that we have been monitoring also has a resident pair of barn owls, and five eggs have been observed in there. We are hoping to be able to report more successful hatches in due course!
Box Moor Trust Festival 2026
19th and 20th September on Blackbirds Moor. Applications for stall space, either inside a marquee or an outside pitch, are welcome from local crafters, artisans and small businesses, as well as community groups and charities. If you are interested in having a stall contact us at admin@boxmoortrust.org.uk This is an established, free event for visitors.
Photo competition – entries invited
Don’t forget to submit your images for our photo competition on the theme: “Where Nature, Heritage and Community Meet”. Maybe you like to photograph landscapes? We have almost 500 acres of woods, meadows, hills and valleys. Enjoy taking action shots? The Trust hosts two cricket clubs and a rugby club. If wildlife and nature is your preferred subject matter, there is a rich variety of flora and fauna to be found in every corner of the estate. We’d love to see all the seasons of the year represented.
All photographs must have been taken of, or from, Box Moor Trust land. The closing date is 30th November 2026. Entry is free and competitors may submit up to 10 images. Photos must be in jpg format, minimum resolution 300ppi (pixels per inch) in order to reproduce well in print. The twelve selected finalists will be put to the public vote on the Box Moor Trust Facebook and Instagram pages to determine 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. Prizes are £100 for first place, £75 for second and £50 for third.
This year, we have introduced a junior category for under-18s. Rules are the same as above, except that there is no specific theme – as long as your photo was taken on Trust land, it will qualify. Prizes for first, second and third placed juniors. Head to the website to find the entry forms.
Last year’s winning entries are currently on display at the Old Barn, Westbrook Hay – take a look next time you are up there for a walk.
