Can anyone help?

[alisonclair]

Hello

Could anyone tell me where I can purchase a handcrafted bird box? Sorry to be morbid, but my mum died 2 weeks ago, and as my mum loved her feathered friends, we would like to purchase a bird box to erect in our local church yard in her memory. It is the most fitting memorium we can think of for someone who loved wildlife like she did. Obviously we want it to be functional, and easy to clean, but I just want something extra special for her.

Many thanks

Alison

[Hedge Witch]

Oh Alison, I am so sorry for your loss

I'm afraid I don't know the answer to your question.

Take care!

[epops]

sorry to hear about your mum theres a place here Bird Houses And Boxes

[Jason Green]

I'm so, so sorry Alison. I can't help either, but just wanted to pass on my thoughts.

...

[JoulesH]

What a lovely way of remembering someone Several of our local secondary schools make bird boxes as part of woodworking (probably called design and technology or something now!), it may be worth trying that route, they sometimes sell them as part of an 'enterprise' (business) project.

[eeyore]

The problem with wooden boxes is that they cant be treated (as baby birds are sensitive to the chemicals) so they tend to only last a few years before starting to fall apart. As a memorial to someone you obviously want something longer lasting so i would suggest one of the concrete almalgam ones. Also i'd suggest buying it from the RSPB as although they are maybe slightly more expensive , not only will your mums memorial be providing a home for birds but the money spent to provide it will be supporting the welfare of whole species.

alternately if you want a hand crafted wooden effort i can probably find a craftsman to make it for you ( I'll pm you as we arent allowed to make comercial links on the boards), if it was made in hard wood it would last considerably longer than the usual soft wood efforts.

[Ruth Daniel]

Sorry to hear your sad news Alison.
I hope you find something suitable.
I found these sites which may be of interest to you....

http://www.birdnesters.com/details.php

http://www.britishbirdlovers.co.uk/b...ird-boxes.html

[alisonclair]

Thank you for all your suggestions. I guess a wooden one won't last for long, so may have to look at something longer lasting. I would like to put a small plaque on the one I buy, just with Mum's name. I hope whatever I buy gets some nesting birds. It is a very quiet memorial garden with lots of trees, shrubs and flowers. A bit overgrown, but perfect I think.

Thanks again everyone.

Alison

[eeyore]

If you did go with a hardwood model, you could have your mums name either carved or pyrographed (ie burnt) into the front.

I think a well made box in durable hardwood would be okay its just that the standard softwood ones are made in fairly naff softwood (mostly spruce and larch) and tacked together - it is often a toss up as to whether the tacks rust through before the wood fails.

woodcrete boxes like the schwegler ones (vis the pm i sent you) are the epitome of durability and comfort for the birdies , but unfortunately they are also ugly to look at and dificult to attach a plaque to ( I would suggest super glue, no nails, or cement if you went that route)

it is also possible to get boxes made from ecodeck (recycled plastic) which are durable and easier to fix plates onto , but they still dont look very nice.

while porcelain or ceramic boxes are often very aesthetically pleasing and hard wearing (if not vandalised) but are not that great for the birds.

[Jim Ford]

Sorry to hear of your loss.

I have friend that has a joinery workshop. He can make anything to a customer's order out of any timber.

He's not particularly cheap, but if he has offcuts of a hardwood to hand it may work out not too expensive. We've got birdboxes up in the garden he made years ago out of mahogany he had to hand.

Do you want me to PM you his email?

Jim