Sand martins weigh a mere 13–14g, and can be identified by their grey-brown backs, white underparts, and their little, marginally forked tails. Each spring, they migrate from sub-Saharan Africa, meaning that most UK residents will spot them between March and October. Yet, these sightings have become increasingly rare.
In 2020, the Hertfordshire’s State of Nature report identified a decline in the sand martin population and consequently named it a ‘Hertfordshire Species of Conservation Concern’. Then in 2024, a similar report, the Hertfordshire Bird Report, announced that there had been a 50% fall in the species’ presence in the county since 1970.
Only two sand martin breeding colonies exist in Hertfordshire: one in the Stanborough Gravel pits, near Welwyn Garden City, and another in a quarry near the village of Cold Christmas, in East Hertfordshire. So, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust have taken action.
Addressing sand martin decline
Usually, sand martins burrow into sandy and steep cliffs near water in order to make their nests. At Amwell Nature Reserve, just 8.8km from Ware, purpose-built nesting banks with chambers, mimicking the sand martins’ natural habitat, have been created by the reserve’s lake. Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust have confirmed that Amwell was chosen for this project since sand martins already hunt insects at the site’s lake, and so, the project hopes to successfully build on an already existing population.
Amy Barker, from 100 Green, a UK-based renewable energy provider which helped to fund the Amwell Nature Reserve project, spoke about the effects that these new nests will have on the environment. She explained how people often overlook the connections between renewable energy and wildlife. Consequently, 100 Green ensures its wind turbine installations are kept away from migrating bird routes and key biodiversity areas.
This sand martin conservation project comes at a crucial time for environmental protection. A recent report from the RSPB has stated that climate change is affecting UK birds, from changing species distribution to loss of seasonal food, to increased pressure on protected areas. The recent heatwaves and lack of rain have, for example, hardened the soil, making it increasingly difficult for birds and wildlife to access much needed nutritious worms and soil dwelling creatures.
Other renewable energy companies, like Ørsted, an offshore developer, also consider migratory routes when implementing their infrastructure. “All developers, including Ørsted, are required to consider migratory birds in their pre-consent environmental impact assessments,” Samir Whitaker, Biodiversity Lead Specialist at Ørsted told East Anglia Bylines.
“The findings of these assessments then inform measures to avoid, minimise, and mitigate risks to important species and habitats, including the positioning and layout of the wind farm.” Whitaker clarified that birds like the sand martin, collectively classified as passerines, are included in this consideration.
Ongoing conservation
The Amwell Nature Reserve project hopes to sustain the birds’ long-term replenishment. The sand will be freshened each year, encouraging new flocks of birds to nest, year upon year. Kathryn Dunnet, Reserves Officer at Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, expressed that the new nests indicate “another step in the Trust’s ongoing work to restore habitats and reverse wildlife decline locally, ensuring that species such as the sand martin have a better chance of thriving in the future.”
The new dwellings for the sand martins also hold potential for the future of teaching. Debbie Bigg, Communications and PR officer at Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, told East Anglia Bylines that Ware Swift Group have supported the project’s funding and work with local schools. So, it is likely that school students will be taught about the importance of migratory species through the case study of the sand martins’ recently unveiled nests in the Amwell Nature Reserve.
These energetic little birds are a beautiful sight, skimming over lakes and wetlands in search of insects. So, everyone is hopeful the sand martins will establish a thriving colony in these new nesting banks. If they do, it will not only benefit the species but also provide a wonderful wildlife spectacle for visitors as they watch the birds nesting and raising their young.
Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust is a conservation charity working to protect wildlife and help people connect with nature. More information about their reserves, conservation work and how to support them may be found at their website.
