Friends of the River Crane’s kingfisher bank installation: Crane Valley Partnership Projects

FORCE is a well-known established charity, formed in 2003, who work to enhance the River Crane’s environment for both wildlife and visitors. Their work focuses on the lower Crane Valley, spanning the boroughs of Hounslow and Richmond.

In the latest round of the Crane Valley Community Fund for 2024/25, FORCE used their grant to install three new kingfisher banks along the River Crane in Crane Park. Two of the new banks will replace old ones, built in 2003 and 2013, that have deteriorated over time and are no longer functional. These original banks were constructed with marine plywood, which over time has warped and become unsuitable for the kingfishers to use. The third new bank will be placed at an intermediate location between the other two. While the design of the new banks remains the same as the previous versions, the marine plywood has been replaced with recycled plastic sheeting. This gives the same appearance but has greater durability.

The concept of the kingfisher banks at Crane Park originated with Ian from FORCE over 20 years ago. Ian explained that a local bird ringer was granted permission to ring birds in Crane Park and would share his bird data with FORCE. The data revealed that, despite the abundance of food in the area, the kingfishers that Ian often saw flying through the park were not nesting there. He realised that this was because the riverbanks in Crane Park were unsuitable for nesting, as they were being eroded by water or dogs, and lacked sufficient height. Therefore, Ian installed kingfisher nest banks, which led to an increase in nesting and successful hatching of kingfishers in the area. Over time, he has perfected the structure of the nest banks, such as by adding wooden panels to the sides and top of the boxes to prevent predators from accessing the nests. Ian’s efforts have gained recognition beyond Crane Park as well, with invitations to install banks in places like Bushy Park. Today, more than 30 kingfisher pairs have successfully nested in his banks. His achievements have also been praised by Sir David Attenborough, who applauded him during a visit to Crane Park Island.

The Community Fund paid for the plastic sheeting and other materials needed for the construction of the bank, including wooden frames and chicken wire. TCV were also hired for two days to lead volunteer sessions to help with the creation of the kingfisher bank, which can be a long process.

Volunteers, including Sophia from Habitats & Heritage, began by removing mud from areas around the island where the kingfisher bank would be installed. The next step was assembling the kingfisher bank, which involves drilling the plastic sheeting panels together to form a box. The front of the panel is positioned slightly submerged in the river and, to prevent predators from entering, chicken wire is placed across the base and top of the box. The structure is filled with the soil collected, which is tamped down firmly to create a stable nesting environment. The installation took place in winter as vegetation is minimal, allowing for easier access and ensuring the river bank is clear of plant cover. The kingfisher banks need to be left for up to 1 year before they can be used by kingfishers, to ensure the soil settles and does not collapse under the weight of the birds, as they burrow deep to build their nests.