SSI Environmental supplies durable swift, barn owl and kestrel nest boxes for conservation groups, ecologists, forestry companies and ACRES-scheme farmers across Ireland. Built to withstand the Irish climate, the boxes support biodiversity action plans, planning-condition mitigation and habitat restoration projects, with nationwide bulk supply from our Dublin base.

 

Bird Boxes Ireland  Swift, Barn Owl & Kestrel Nest Boxes for Conservation, Forestry & ACRES Projects

Ireland’s swift population has fallen by around 40% over the last decade, and the barn owl remains a red-listed species of conservation concern  in both cases, the loss of safe nesting sites is a leading cause. Conservation groups, ecologists and farmers are under real pressure to deliver nest boxes that actually last: a cheap timber box that rots or fails within a few seasons doesn’t just waste a budget, it can undermine an entire monitoring programme or planning-condition sign-off.

Why Standard Nest Boxes Fail on Commercial & Conservation Sites

• Untreated timber and marine ply typically rot, crack or grow mould within a few Irish winters
• Inconsistent dimensions and entry holes reduce uptake by the target species
• Boxes that fail early put multi-year monitoring data and scheme compliance at risk
• Garden-centre boxes are rarely built to the specification an ecologist or scheme needs for sign-off

Who Needs Bird Boxes Like These?

• Conservation groups and BirdWatch branches running local swift or barn owl nest box schemes
• Biodiversity officers, county councils and Tidy Towns groups delivering Local Biodiversity Action Fund projects
• Ecological consultants specifying nest boxes as mitigation under planning conditions or an EIS
• Forestry companies installing kestrel and owl boxes to support natural rodent control at plantation edges
• ACRES-scheme farmers and landowners needing durable, compliant boxes for their biodiversity actions

Which Nest Box Do You Need?

Species	Box Type	Typical Site	Mounting Notes
Swift	Single, double or triple-entry wall box	Buildings, swift towers, urban renovation mitigation	High under eaves or gable, sheltered from direct sun
Barn Owl	Large enclosed barn-style box	Open farmland, barns, ACRES sites	3–5m high, facing E / NE / SE, away from prevailing wind
Kestrel	Open-fronted tray box	Farmland and forestry edges, poles or mature trees	Mounted high with a clear, open aspect for hunting access

Built for the Irish Climate

Our nest boxes are built from durable, weatherproof materials engineered to resist rot, mould and fire  rather than the timber and marine ply that typically fails outdoors in Ireland within a few seasons. That matters when a box needs to survive years of monitoring for a conservation programme, a forestry management plan, or an ACRES commitment, not just one breeding season.

Supporting ACRES, Biodiversity Action Plans & Planning Mitigation

Whether you’re meeting an ACRES scheme action, delivering a council Local Biodiversity Action Fund project, or satisfying a planning condition for ecological mitigation, durable nest boxes with a long service life reduce the risk of a scheme failing on inspection or a monitoring programme losing data to a collapsed box.

Why Choose SSI Environmental for Bird Boxes

• Trusted across the Irish environmental sector since 1996
• Nationwide bulk delivery from our Dublin base  built for council, forestry and conservation-scale orders
• Combine with our sediment & erosion control range for wider habitat and biodiversity site works
• Free advice on the right box, quantity and placement for your species and site

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What types of bird boxes does SSI Environmental supply?

A: Swift nest boxes, barn owl boxes and kestrel boxes, built from durable, weatherproof materials suited to long-term outdoor use on Irish sites.

Q: Why is Ireland’s swift population declining, and how do nest boxes help?

A: Swift numbers have fallen sharply as building renovations remove the roof gaps they traditionally nested in; purpose-built nest boxes replace those lost sites and are a recognised conservation action.

Q: Are these nest boxes suitable for ACRES scheme requirements?

A: Yes. Our boxes are built to durable, accredited specifications suitable for ACRES and other biodiversity-scheme installations  contact us to confirm the right box for your scheme submission.

Q: What’s the difference between a swift box, a barn owl box and a kestrel box?

A: Swift boxes are compact wall-mounted boxes with a small entry hole. Barn owl boxes are large enclosed boxes for open farmland or barns. Kestrel boxes are open-fronted trays mounted high with a clear, open aspect.

Q: How high should a bird box be mounted?

A: Swift boxes are mounted high under eaves; barn owl boxes 3–5m up facing away from prevailing wind; kestrel boxes high with a clear, open aspect for hunting access.

Q: Can SSI Environmental supply bird boxes in bulk for a council or forestry project?

A: Yes. We supply nest boxes in bulk nationwide for county council biodiversity schemes, forestry companies, conservation groups and ecological consultancies.

Q: Do you supply nest boxes nationwide?

A: Yes  nationwide delivery from our Dublin base, including bulk orders for multi-site projects.

Q: How long do these nest boxes last outdoors?

A: Built from durable, weatherproof, fire- and mould-resistant materials, designed for many years of continuous outdoor use without rotting, unlike standard timber or marine ply boxes.

Q: Can ecology consultants order nest boxes to satisfy a planning condition?

A: Yes. We work with ecological consultants to supply the right species-specific boxes, in the right quantity, to meet planning mitigation conditions.