New home for Leadhills barn owls

But all is not lost for the birds, as a concerned neighbour decided to help them out — by putting up a specifically designed nesting box for them on a nearby tree.

The nest box was partly-funded by RSPB Scotland and South Lanarkshire Council.

It will hopefully prove to be an acceptable alternative for the barn owls when work to restore the church's cupola blocks up the access hole to their old nest.

Christine Mckinnon-Clark, the owner of the new nest box, said: "It's lovely to see the barn owls flying backwards and forwards to the church when they're feeding their young.

"And it would be a real shame to lose that experience if the birds are

displaced by the building work.

"When I realised they needed an alternative home, I was happy to step in, with help from the RSPB and the council, to put up this nest box."

For more information on this story, pick up a copy of this week's Carluke and Lanark Gazette which is in the shops now.