Stocksbridge Willow Tit Habitat Creation

The willow tit has declined by 88% between 1970 & 2006 (Eaton et al 2008) and is listed both on the UK’s ‘Red List of birds of conservation concern’ and is a ‘UK BAP Priority Bird Species’.

The Sheffield Bird Study group survey data suggests that there is a population of willow tits in the areas surrounding Stocksbridge. The Stocksbridge Willow Tit Habitat Creation Project will be based across three sites in Stocksbridge where there is the potential to create suitable willow tit habitat, enabling the willow tits to re-colonise the area. These sites are Fox Glen, Pot House Wood and Newhall Wood.

This will be achieved through- tree planting to provide suitable nesting sites in the future, the placement of willow tit nest boxes, thinning of tree cover to provide suitable open habitat and drainage work to provide the damp conditions which willow tit find favourable.