Campaign to boost owl population

Owls are needed to keep mice and rat populations under control

A new project is being launched to boost the dwindling owl population of a Cumbrian city.

During a census in 2002, only one pair of tawny owls was discovered in Rickerby Park in Carlisle.

Now local businesses, schools and residents are being urged to put up nesting boxes to encourage the birds to come and live in the city.

John Miles, project manager at the World Owl Trust in Muncaster, said owls kept mice and rat populations down.

Building work

He said: "We want to bring owls into the community and Carlisle is a fantastic place to start as it has lots of rivers such as the Eden and Caldew, that act as wildlife corridors.

"Owls are nocturnal and are not always easy to see, but they play a huge part in communities because they eat mice and rats.

"We used to have breeding barn owls in Rickerby but their breeding area was destroyed by building work to improve a house.

"We want to encourage people and local businesses to put up more nesting boxes."

Carlisle City Council and the county council have given their support to the scheme.