Villagers raise £100 for homeless owls

A fire that destroyed a barn owl pair's nest this summer keeps bringing Trust conservation officer Chris Sperring back to the Somerset village of Compton Dundon. After the owls’ home in a hay barn was destroyed Chris erected a new nestbox nearby and villagers hoped the pair would breed again. They were disappointed, but they still raised £100 as a thank you for the Trust’s quick response.

Chris meanwhile, was so touched by the whip-round that he volunteered to return to Compton Dundon to give a talk about owls on Friday 21 November from 7.30pm to 9.30 pm at the village's Meadway Hall, Ham Lane. The £2 admission charge is to cover room hire. “I was delighted by how much this community cared about their owls, and I just wanted to give something back to them,” said Chris.