THE Barn Owl Trust's project in West Devon is coming to an end.

The Devon-based charity received significant funding from Biffaward and the Devon Bird Watching and Preservation Society, along with contributions from Dartmoor National Park, Devon County Council and West Devon Borough Council, to increase barn owl numbers.

The Westmoor area, between Dartmoor and the River Tamar, was the only area to show a significant decline in barn owl numbers between the last two county surveys. The number of nest records fell from 16 in 1993 to only two in 2003, a decline of 87.5%. This was in contrast to the rest of Devon where numbers went up by an estimated 42%, to between 350 to 470 pairs.

Since February 2009, the Westmoor Barn Owl scheme has enabled visits to 177 locations in the Westmoor area, providing a three-stage package of conservation measures in 23 areas comprising 64 sites and advisory visits to 42 more.

Altogether, 108 nest boxes have been erected in the area, providing the potential for the barn owl population to recover.

David Ramsden, head of conservation at the Barn Owl Trust, said: 'The scheme has made fantastic progress over the past 18 months. Now we just need a few extra sites for nest boxes to be erected and would love to hear from any landowners with a suitable building or tree who would like a free box erected.'

For more information visit the website at http://www.barnowltrust.org.uk">www.barnowltrust.org.uk