CONSERVATIONISTS are helping barn owls flourish in the Colne Valley.

British Waterways installed three new barn owl nest boxes at Tunnel End Reservoir outside Marsden yesterday.

The boxes will help the birds to flourish in the ideal habitat near Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

The A-framed boxes, which can also accommodate kestrels, were installed in trees around the reservoir following a £1,000 grant from British Waterways.

The organisation’s senior ecologist Philippa Baron said: “This is a fantastic scheme which we hope will encourage the birds to nest and help preserve their population.

“It is thanks to funding and co-operation with partner organisations and individuals that this type of project is possible.

“Owls face a number of threats including the cutting down of trees, the destruction of natural grasslands and barn conversions, so it’s really important we do what we can to protect them.

“The waterways are home to many protected species and they provide an ideal home and feeding ground.”

British Waterways and the Wildlife Conservation Partnership work together to protect the habitat of barn owls.

The species is specially protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and

Countryside Act. This makes it unlawful to intentionally or recklessly disturb the birds while they are preparing to nest or are at the nest with eggs or young, or to disturb their young.

Inspection of nest sites can only be undertaken by fieldworkers holding a licence issued by the appropriate countryside agency.

Thirty owl boxes have been installed along the Aire and Calder Navigation canal in the last 10 years.

Five broods were found nesting along the canal last year.

Ditches and canals make prime feeding areas for owls.