Page 30 • The HERALD • 2nd April 2026 v THE HERALD - YOUR COMMUNITY MAGAZINE v ALL ASPECTS OF ELECTRICAL WORK UNDERTAKEN • Full Rewires • New Circuits • Consumer Unit Replacements • Electric Vehicle Charging Points • Landlord Certification • Smart Homes • Central Heating Controls 023 8089 0932 or 07534 343631 www.alnelectrical.co.uk info@alnelectrical.co.uk New Forest Scaffolding All aspects of scaffolding undertaken • Extensions • Chimneys • Re-Roofing • New Builds etc For a friendly, local, reliable service and a free quotation Telephone: 07734 476855 www.newforestscaffolding.co.uk Full Liability Insurance Lychette Cottage, Roughdown, Blackfield SO45 1XG SOLENT SKIP HIRE LTD FOR ALL YOUR COMMERCIAL AND DOMESTIC WASTE MINI ~ MIDI ~ MAXI SKIPS ALSO CUBIC YARD BAGS OWN BAG COLLECTION AVAILABLE 023 8066 0123 01590 619700 • 01962 588288 Email: office@solentskiphire.co.uk New Artificial Bank Gives Sand Martins A Safe Space A new sand martin nesting bank has been created at Testwood Lakes Nature Reserve, near Totton, to safeguard the only known breeding colony of sand martins in the Test Valley. Built by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, the purpose-built structure replaces a sand martin bank which has supported the colony for more than two decades but had deteriorated over time. e new bank draws on modern designs and provides a safe and secure home where these iconic migratory birds can nest, lay eggs, and raise their chicks. Sand martins nest in natural riverbanks, quarries and sandy cli s. However, habitat loss caused by development, riverbank reinforcement and erosion has made suitable nesting sites increasingly scarce, meaning arti cial nesting banks now play an increasingly important role. e new modern bank contains nearly 180 nest chambers and is designed to mimic a natural sandy cli face, re ecting the birds’ natural nesting habitat. A series of small entrance holes on the front of the bank allow the sand martins to y directly into tunnels angled upwards, which lead to the nest chambers. Each chamber is accessible within the bank via individual wooden doors, allowing Trust sta to easily monitor the colony with minimal disturbance to the birds. Ben Pickup, Reserves O cer for Lower Test Valley at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, said: “The new bank provides sand martins with a safe, stable nesting space to use each year. We have carefully built every tunnel at an angle so that the nests are protected from predators and the weather, while providing the birds with a familiar, natural nesting layout. Here they will be able to carry out their natural behaviours safely - from flying in and out to laying their eggs and raising their chicks. “With the potential to support nearly 180 pairs, the bank will help secure Testwood Lakes’ colony and boost Hampshire’s sand martin population, giving these amazing little birds the best chance to thrive.” It was built with the incredible help of the Volunteer Task Force alongside the Friends of Testwood volunteer group. It was supported by Hampshire Ornithological Society (HOS), who funded the majority of the construction costs. Sand martins (Riparia riparia) are one of the earliest spring migrants to reach the UK, arriving from Africa in March. ey typically begin nesting from April, o en raising two broods before leaving in August to return to wintering grounds in the Sahel region of Africa. Sand martins are sociable birds and will nest together in colonies, digging burrows in steep, sandy cli s, usually around water. Each pair of birds will create a chamber at the end of the burrow, and here four or ve eggs will be laid. Sand martins are the smallest member of the swallow, measuring around 12cm in length with a wingspan of approximately 28cm. ey are brown above and white below, with a distinctive brown band across the breast and a short, forked tail. Agile and fast- ying, they are o en seen skimming low over water in search of insects. In recent years, sand martin numbers have been a ected by droughts in their African wintering grounds. UK populations remain broadly stable but HOS reports that numbers in south-east England have declined. In Hampshire, the species is now almost entirely con ned to sand and gravel pits, with just 318 active holes recorded. A HOS survey in 2021 recorded just three active sand martin colonies in the county, including at Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve. e reserve, managed by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, also has an arti cial sand bank. Ben added: “Constructing such a large structure in a remote area of the reserve was no small task. We New sand martin bank with staff and volunteers (Credit: Chris Fairhead) Continued on page 31
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