2025 has been tough for breeding barn owls in Staffordshire, with very few chicks recorded in comparison to previous years. This mirrors a national trend which is possibly linked to the long, dry summer reducing vole numbers which are the owls’ main food source.  Barn owl by Jon Hawkins Despite this, Staffordshire Wildlife reports that their nature reserves remain vital refuges for birds of prey. Here’s how they are helping: Nest boxes installed with guidance from the Barn O
Masses more Fruit and Nuts Have you noticed that there seems to be so much more fruit on the trees this year - beautiful isn’t it? 2025 is a mast year for fruit and nuts in the UK. This means trees like oaks are producing a significantly larger crop of acorns and other fruits and nuts, leading to an abundance of them across the country. This phenomenon is cyclical, happening approximately every three to five years, and is considered a survival strategy for the trees. The surp