PEOPLE are being asked to sponsor a special edition bird box to help protect owls and kestrels. These birds of prey have always been a feature of upper Waveney valley and Thornham Walks because the wide water meadows and grazing marshes provide ideal hunting areas.

PEOPLE are being asked to sponsor a special edition bird box to help protect owls and kestrels.

These birds of prey have always been a feature of upper Waveney valley and Thornham Walks because the wide water meadows and grazing marshes provide ideal hunting areas. But their usual habitat is now under threat.

"Kestrels and owls usually nested in old farm buildings and mature trees, but many of these have now been lost and modern farm buildings don't seem to be suitable," said Steve Hammond, assistant project officer of the Upper Waveney Valley Countryside Project.

The cost of sponsoring a box, by local wildlife artist Roger Buxton, is £10 for individuals and £20 for businesses and all proceeds go towards the boxes' upkeep and monitoring.