A new nesting tower and information board have been installed in Malvern Vale to help a declining bird species in the area.
Malvern Hills District Council (MHDC) has installed a tower on the green space at End Hill Way in Malvern Vale to help provide safe nesting spaces for House Martins.
To accompany this, an information board has also been installed which provides details about the birds, including their travel habits, how they create their nests, and how the public can do their part to help.
Funding and support have been provided by Natural Networks, Cllr Natalie McVey’s Ward Budget, the Worcester and Malvern RSPB Local Group, and Greenbelt Limited.
A special open day event will be held on Friday 13 March 2026 between 3pm-5pm for residents and visitors to find out more.
MHDC’s Biodiversity Projects Officer, Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, RSPB and Greenbelt will all be on hand to provide information about House Martins, show the tower and information board, and answer any questions.
Visitors will also have the chance to register their interest in receiving a House Martin nesting cup for their house.
House Martins travel from Africa to Malvern Vale every year to breed and raise their chicks in mud nests under the eaves of our buildings.
Unfortunately, they are in severe decline, and their numbers have decreased by 42 per cent between 1995-2023 in the UK, largely due to habitat loss, reductions in insects, and a lack of suitable nesting sites.
Lorna Baggett, Biodiversity Projects Officer at MHDC, said: “We are delighted to have been able to install this tower to provide nesting habitat for House Martins and our thanks go to our funders and partners for their support. House Martins are on the UK’s Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern, so it’s vital that we take action to provide nesting sites for them along with insect and wildlife rich habitats, and it is our hope that we can encourage more residents to join us in supporting House Martins at Malvern Vale.”
Cllr Natalie McVey, Ward Member for West Malvern, said: “I am so pleased to have supported this project through my Ward Budget Fund. I am passionate about the wonderful wildlife we have in our district and additions like this will hopefully help our House Martin colony thrive for years to come”.
Cllr Ian Cresswell, Cabinet Member for Environment and Communities at Worcestershire County Council, said: “Projects like this show the real difference we can make when organisations work together towards a shared goal. It’s encouraging to see practical, locally led action creating safe nesting opportunities that will help House Martins thrive. I’d like to thank everyone involved in bringing this initiative forward and encourage residents to consider the simple steps they can take to support the recovery of declining species.”
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Note to the editor:
The Natural Networks Programme is a Worcestershire-wide scheme offering grants and advice to projects which aim to create or restore wildlife-rich habitats. The Natural Networks programme is a partnership between Worcestershire County Council and the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust. It is part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Malvern Hills District Council, Wychavon District Council and Wyre Forest District Council and Worcestershire County Council.
Pictured: Cllr Natalie McVey, Ward Member for West Malvern, Finley Limburn-Reynolds from Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, Stuart Brown from RSPB, and Lorna Baggett, Biodiversity Projects Officer at MHDC.
Date published: 5 March 2026