A WILDLIFE charity is inviting borough bird lovers to invest in a love nest as Valentine’s Day nears.

The Worcestershire Wildlife Trust’s Rent-a-Nest scheme sees nest boxes erected in woodlands around the county which are rented out for £10 a year to leaseholders who are given a certificate, an annual report stating which birds used the box and an invite to visit the box with a warden in the spring.

Trust bosses say it makes an ideal Valentine’s gift and also offers a helping hand to woodland birds.

Becky Bradshaw-King, scheme co-ordinator, said: “Valentine’s Day falls in National Nest Box week so renting a nest in one of our woodlands makes a perfect present for a loved one.

“The boxes are monitored by local wardens so we have information about what species are using the box and how many young they’ve raised during the year.

“The monitoring also gives us great information about the lifestyle of the birds, which can help us with the management on our nature reserves.

“Great and blue tits are common in our boxes but we’ve also had pied flycatchers, redstarts and nuthatches use the boxes.

“As our woodlands and other wild places with natural nesting sites for birds have been damaged and destroyed, this is a great opportunity to help our local wildlife.

“The bird boxes increase the number of potential nesting sites and improve the chances of birds breeding successfully.”

The Trust has a variety of different sized boxes with different holes to attract a range of birds which can be rented at sites across Worcestershire.

To find out more or buy a Rent-a-Nest lease visit website www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/shop or call 01905 754919.