Wartime defences are put to new use
BIRDS AND BATS WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO USE THE CONCRETE PILLBOXES
AN old unused Second World War pillbox in Burton has been turned into a haven for wildlife.
The concrete building, which was built as defence should the Nazis have invaded, has stood empty for over 75 years since the end of the war in 1945.
Now one in Branston, along with another in Uttoxeter, have been transformed to serve as nesting structures for birds such as swallows and a place for bats to roost.
Shelving has been installed inside for birds to nest on and hessian cloths added for bats.
The entrances to the pillboxes have been fitted with lockable steelplated doors to keep people out. The bats and birds get in via the windows, which are too small for people to get through.
Pillboxes were strategically built at the start of the Second World War in 1940 along rivers, particularly overlooking bridges and shallows across the country, where German forces could have crossed.
These concrete ‘rooms’ would have been manned by the Home Guard or soldiers.
The latest pillboxes to be converted are ones on the River Trent at Branston Leas south and one in Uttoxeter near the Doveridge suspension bridge along the River Dove.
They join five located along the River Trent between the National Memorial Arboretum, in Alrewas, and Walton Bridge.
The project has been funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund through a project called ‘Transforming the Trent Valley Partnership.’ The partnership was launched in April 2019 to deliver a multi-million pound scheme across five years.
The partnership comprises 18 organisations and is led by the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust.
The scheme will cover a 200km square area of the Trent Valley from Rugeley, through Alrewas and Burton towards Derby, the River Tame from just north of Tamworth to its confluence with the River Trent at Croxall, and the Dove River Valley between Derby and Uttoxeter.
During the war pillboxes were part of ‘Stop Line Number 5,’ a network of defensive structures that used the rivers Trent, Tame and Dove to provide a natural barrier to invading forces.
They were constructed from reinforced concrete, poured over a metal cage of reinforcing steel and surrounded with a wooden mould.
Nowadays the structures stand empty and unused, with the exception of being subject to vandalism or used by teenagers as somewhere to hang out with friends.
A spokesman for the Transforming the Trent Valley Group said: “Both have been converted for wild bird nest sites with the option of summer bat roosting.
“The conversions entail fitting a lockable steel-plated door, internal shelving for birds to nest on, then hanging hessian inside for bat roosting.
“The ones we converted in March were used immediately by bats and birds, so fingers crossed – let’s hope that they all like their new accommodation.”
Many pillboxes remain in very good condition thanks to their super strong construction.
The conversions entail fitting a lockable steelplated door, internal shelving for birds to nest on, then hanging hessian inside for bat roosting.