Birds get new home at local nature reserve

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.”