A Lake District hotel is helping newlywed couples make a permanent mark on their wedding day while assisting the environment.
Wild Boar Estate, nestled within 72 acres of rural woodland, has come up with a memento for couples married at their venue.
They are gifting each couple an engraved bird nesting box, allowing them to leave a positive impact on wildlife.
The boxes, made by Penrith-based company Croglin Ltd, aim to provide homes for a variety of British bird species, including sparrows, blue tits, robins, and pied wagtails.
Each couple is given a map of the estate, highlighting the location of their personalised bird box.
They are also supplied with a what3words geocode, enabling them to pinpoint the exact location of their box within the woodland.
The boxes are typically mounted in autumn, which is the best time for birds to notice and familiarise themselves with the boxes before the following spring.
Callum and Amy Maguire from Barrow were among the first couples to see their box being installed after their recent wedding at Wild Boar Estate.
"It’s a simple idea for making a positive difference to nature and the birdlife in the woods here.
"We’re proud to be a part of that.
"It’s also been a great way to put a personal touch on our wedding and has given us a permanent memento of the day which we can come back and see any time."
A study by the RSPB, BirdLife International, and the Czech Society for Ornithology has found that around 600 million breeding birds have been lost in the country over the last 40 years.
Wild Boar Estate's wedding co-ordinator, Amy Smethurst, said: "The personalised wedding bird nest boxes are already a big talking point with brides and grooms planning their nuptials with us.
"We hope that couples will come back to see us on their anniversary each year to see how their bird box is faring, and we hope that the boxes will provide a home to a host of birds and allow them to thrive and grow with families of their own."
For further information about weddings at Wild Boar Estate, visit https://englishlakes.co.uk/hotels/wild-boar-estate/weddings/
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