The UK house martin population plummeted by 40 per cent between 1995 and 2024, a decline that has pushed the species onto the UK’s Red List.
To combat this, Hampshire is launching a major expansion of its artificial nest scheme, with plans to install up to 900 cups across the county.
A 40% Population Collapse Drives Expansion
The birds migrate from Africa every spring to summer in the UK, where they typically form colonies in close proximity. However, environmental challenges and poor breeding success have stalled their recovery. Because house martins require roughly 1,000 pellets of soft mud to construct a single cup-shaped nest, extreme summer heat has created a critical shortage of building materials.
Proven Success in Local Colonies
Project coordinator Nigel Matthews said the goal is to give these remarkable birds a safe place to raise their young
. The pilot phase confirmed that house martins will readily occupy artificial cups if they are positioned near existing colonies.
The response to the first pilot stage of this project showed how strongly people across Hampshire want to help house martins.
Keith Betton, chair of Hampshire Ornithological Society
The pilot project, concentrated in northern and eastern Hampshire, recorded more than 500 nest sites across the county in 2025. Known locations include Rooksdown, Lychpit, Chineham, Hounsome Fields, and Sherfield on Loddon near Basingstoke. Andover-area sites include Picket Twenty, Saxon Fields, Weyhill, Enham, St Mary Bourne, and Chilbolton.
Schools have also become vital participants. The Loddon School hosted 35 nests, Wherwell Primary School took on 10, and Cliddesden Primary School accommodated nine.
Preparing for the 2027 Migration
The Hampshire House Martin Project is now scouting for new properties, aiming to have the hardware installed before the birds return from Africa in April and May 2027. While the project has confirmed it will provide hundreds of additional nests, it has not yet set a firm date for the start of installations or a cap on the number of applications it will accept.
It gives homeowners, schools and businesses a simple, practical way to support the recovery of this threatened bird.
Keith Betton, chair of Hampshire Ornithological Society
Homeowners, schools, and businesses interested in hosting nests can review eligibility criteria and submit applications through the Hampshire House Martins Project website.