Homes sweet HOMES

This month, new wildlife homes are springing up all across the UK

- ANNABEL KEMP

In preparation to raise their young, discover the wildlife creating intricate abodes throughout woods, grasslands and back gardens this coming season.

Pine martens

Tree hollows high above the ground make sheltered dens for pine martens, keeping their babies out of reach from prowling predators, such as red foxes. Dense, ancient woodlands with plenty of wizened old trees are an ideal habitat in which to bring them up. Females give birth by March to a litter of between two and five blind, hairless kits. The curious youngsters begin venturing from the den at just six weeks old, and by three months they can hunt independently for beetles, birds and voles.

Tawny owls