Willow Tit thrives in Staffordshire despite national decline

Once a thriving and common feature of our woodlands, the willow tit is now the UK's fastest declining resident bird.

According to Severn Trent Water, numbers have fallen by about 96% from 1967 to 2023, with only around 3,400 breeding pairs left across the whole country.

Approximately 10 of those are believed to nest in the grounds of Tittesworth Reservoir, near Leek in Staffordshire.

The site, run by Severn Trent Water, has been trying to improve the outlook for the species as part of its wider initiative to boost the area's biodiversity.As part of the biodiversity work, staff at the reservoir have been improving the wet woodland habitat.

They have create more dead wood, in which willow tits like to nest, and specially-designed nesting boxes have also been installed.