Encourage birds into your garden for National Nest Box Week, which runs from 14–21 February.

The campaign, organised by the British Trust for Ornithology, encourages everyone to put up nest boxes in their local area in order to promote and enhance biodiversity and conservation of our breeding birds and wildlife.

The natural nest sites, on which many of our bird species depend, such as holes in trees and buildings, are fast disappearing as gardens and woods are cleared and old houses are renovated.

Since its launch in 1997, thousands of enthusiastic naturalists across the UK have put up boxes and it is estimated that there are now 5–6 million boxes in gardens across the UK.

Different types of nest box attract different birds; small boxes with holes to enter them are favoured by blue tits, great tits and sparrows while open-fronted boxes are preferred by robins, pied wagtails and spotted flycatchers.

Visit the BTO website for information about making or buying your nest box.

From March, you can also take part in the Nest Box Challenge by recording the activity of the adults and the contents of your nest box at regular intervals during the breeding season, and sending your results to the BTO.