Every bird needs a decent home

Published by Judi Samuels for Ascham Homes in Housing and also in Environment

Every bird needs a decent home

Press release: August 2009

Ascham Homes and the Apollo Group are working with St Mary’s Primary School and Greenwich Mencap to provide homes to help save dwindling sparrow and starling populations.

A bird nest box building event, held recently at St Mary’s Primary School, saw students working together with Apollo staff to build nest boxes from flat packs prepared by the Greenwich Mencap Riverwood project. The packs are made from recycled wood from materials used during ‘Decent Homes’ refurbishment works at Attlee Terrace, Walthamstow.

Sparrow and starling numbers are in serious decline and nest boxes can help the local small bird populations by providing a safe, warm place to raise their brood. Some of the nest boxes will be used in the school’s environment garden.

Mike Harris, Apollo Group, said: “We’re delighted to be able to extend our expertise in creating better homes to our feathered friends. This unusual initiative has been designed to showcase the principles of ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ – the guiding philosophy for Apollo on construction waste. The morning gave pupils a chance to learn skills, such as wood-working and design technology. It’s an opportunity for Apollo to give something back to the community we’re working in.”

Hassett Auguste, Chief Executive of Ascham Homes, said: ”Whilst this is an important initiative, it also gives us a chance to give every birdy a Decent Home!”

Ascham Homes has been nominated for a Sustainability Award acknowledging their outstanding accomplishments in waste management and recycling within the borough of Waltham Forest. The nominations come from the environmental awareness journal “Footprint”, a supplement of the prestigious industry publication, Inside Housing magazine.

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Contact:

Judi Samuels, Communications Co-ordinator
Ascham Homes Ltd
Willow House
869 Forest Road
Walthamstow
London
E17 4UH
Telephone: 020 8496 4576