THE installation of a sculptural 'bird feeder tree' took place last week at the Tamar Trails in the Tamar Valley, between Tavistock and Gunnislake.

Last year Tamar Trails applied for some funding from the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty's Sustainable Development Fund to create something new and interesting for visitors.

A plan was then formed to create a welcoming feature that would enhance the centre and double as a bird feeding station — encouraging a variety of wild birds to visit the area.

Resident nature enthusiast and keen twitcher, Richard Hibbert of 'Dart Days' who walks on Dartmoor, said: 'The concept is primarily a sculpture that will double as a feeder, with nooks, crannies and platforms from which the birds can forage and feed.

'I'm anticipating the local nuthatches, tits, great spotted woodpeckers and possibly treecreepers will use it.'

The creation of the feeder has been undertaken by local family business, Alastair Guy and Sons, which has worked on projects all across the South West, including the Eden Project.

Alastair Guy said: 'The magnificent tree trunk which Mel and I selected was from the Tamar Valley.

'It is a great chunk of brown oak, with lots of burr outcrops on it. It was so heavy that a lot of weight had to be cut out from the base.

'All in all we are excited to see how parts of the trunk will, in time, weather with interesting shapes and textures.

'As different species of bird feed in different ways and on different foods, there are features on the trunk which offer various different feeding habits, for seeds, nuts, fats, grubs and commercial hanging feeders too.'