Residents from Seaward Way helped to install nest boxes which were donated by idverde, a grounds maintenance provider, which will encourage birds before nesting season and provide space for recreation and education opportunities.
Sally Hill, Community Connector at LiveWest said: “Our customers’ wellbeing is important to us. Installing bird boxes was an opportunity for families to come together and enjoy their neighbourhood. Activity packs including information from the RSPB to help identify garden birds and packs of bird seeds were given out to families on the estate.”
“During the past months of lockdown, many people have taken to engaging with nature but for those without access to green spaces, communal garden areas and shared green spaces have been a blessing. The green areas are really important to residents, allowing them to socialise outside and enjoy the fresh air.”
With less nesting sites due to gardens, parks and woodland being neater and tidier than they used to be, and modern buildings depriving birds of natural nooks and crannies to make a home the populations of many bird species are down.
Louise Reynolds from Exmoor National Park said: “Families united through Nature’ project, supported the nature event, with wild bird and nature activities. We also helped get the bird boxes placed up in the trees. Alongside common visitors – like Blue Tits, Great Tits, House Sparrows, Robins and Starlings – putting up a bird nesting box will also boost chances of attracting rarer species.”
Continuing the bird theme the roads on Seaward Way are named after various species of bird including Sandpiper Close, Little Plover Close, Mallard Road, Shelduck Close, Pintail Road and Widgeon Close.
This summer Seaward Way residents’ designs were interpreted by Minehead Eye artist, at six community sessions, to decorate the Multi Use Games Area on the estate, which is on the edge of Exmoor National Park. The MUGA which is owned and maintained by Magna Housing who also have a number of homes on the estate has been used more than ever before with its recent upgrade.
Barbara Seacombe, a LiveWest resident on Seaward Way, has really helped to get the community involved with decorating the bird boxes. Led by Minehead Eye, LiveWest has worked in partnership with Magna Housing, Minehead Eye, idverde, Exmoor National Park, the council, the local police and local residents, to bring all of these positive community actions together.
idverde have nesting boxes available to be given to parishes and community groups, to put up in public places for the enjoyment of all. If you would like to find out more about this offer, please contact idverde on Julie.Lynch@idverde.co.uk at the Minehead depot.
LiveWest plans to build more than 7,000 new homes over the next five years and will invest £2billion into the region over the next 10 years.
The protection and improvement of green spaces across its geography is part of its drive to build thriving communities.
Managing over 38, 000 homes across the region LiveWest is one of the first housing associations in the country to have launched an environmental blueprint with measurable targets.
Central to its energy efficiency drive, LiveWest is targeting that all of its existing homes reach an Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) rating of band C and above by 2028 – two years ahead of the proposed government target of 2030.
The increased EPC rating will reduce carbon emissions and support the government’s ambition for the nation to become carbon neutral by 2050. This runs alongside LiveWest’s core ambition to provide homes, support its customers and address fuel poverty.