Building project is all for the birds

A new artificial sand bank has been built to help sand martins at Potteric Carr Nature Reserve in Balby.

Artist Sheila Bury raised money for the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust — which runs the reserve as well as others in the Dearne Valley — to buy the materials needed for the construction.

Sand martins are often seen on the reserve but have not bred there since 2007 because of a lack of suitable steep banks next to the water.

Jim Horsfall, reserves officer at Potteric Carr, said: “We have tried to modify banks on islands in the lakes for a couple of years but with no success. This new artificial bank should be much more suitable.”