No Twin Peaks like mystery here, just the dedication of one man to help reverse the decline in Barn Owls numbers locally.

Long before we moved to The Secret Acre, a neighbour had started erecting Owl nesting boxes in the area, to help the population recover.

Barn Owls are classified as a Schedule 1 bird species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, meaning they are legally protected in the UK. Despite this protection, the population has experienced a decline due to factors such as habitat loss, agricultural intensification, and the use of rodenticides. However, conservation groups have been working hard to help the population recover.

Which means that today, around June each year, neighbours get a phone call to say that tonight is the night for the ringing and recording of the latest Barn Owl chicks, and a small group of excited children and adults gather to witness this uplighting event.