The water body in this photograph is called the North Loch. During the days of quarrying, the sand and gravel extraction face, moved across the land leaving depressions in the ground. Water seeped up from the water table and together with rainfall, filled these hollows allowing a rich diversity of plants, insects and animals to flourish.

If Sand martins could build their own nesting sites, it is likely they would build them near to water where they find their insect food supply.

This style of nesting box has not been tried for Sand martins before. It is considerably smaller than those we are mounting on poles in the Sand martin area. This box has been filled with sharp sand and there is space inside for 17 pairs of birds to nest. The random hole pattern through the front panel, closely replicates that created by the birds on a natural sand face or chalk banking.  

In the 2007 nesting season, 2 of our 3 waterside boxes were used by Sand martins. and both those located away from water were used.