“Peregrine Falcons have been moving into urban areas like Bradford for the last couple of decades – they take a real shine to tall structures such as the Lister Mills chimney as they mimic the cliff ledges they’re drawn to in the countryside.

“Unlike many birds, Peregrines don’t build traditional nests. Instead, they lay their eggs directly onto bare stone, which in urban settings often means rooftops or gutters where the eggs are at risk of falling or failing to incubate properly.

“To help improve nesting success, we launched the Bradford Peregrine Trail with support from Natural England and a team of dedicated volunteers. Together, we’ve installed specially designed nest boxes across the city to give these magnificent birds a safer place to raise their young.”

“Our first task was to identify suitable locations around Bradford for the new nest boxes. We spent time observing the Peregrines and studying their behaviour to ensure we selected the right spots. These birds are surprisingly particular about where they lay their eggs, so we had to get it right.

“With the passion and expertise of our team, we installed nest boxes at a number of sites across Bradford, including the iconic chimney at Lister Mills. Peregrines have been laying eggs there for years, but without much success, so we hoped that a purpose-built nest box would give them the boost they needed.

“Of course, installing anything on a Grade II* listed structure comes with challenges. From its sheer scale to the need for special permissions, there were a few hurdles to overcome. We worked closely with the Urban Splash team to coordinate access for the steeplejacks to install the nest boxes and cameras and wiring needed for the livestream.

“It’s been quite the adventure, navigating planning permissions, collaborating with conservation experts, and even learning how to set up a livestream – definitely not things I expected to be doing when I first got into birdwatching!”

“We had the Lister Mills nest box all up and running by the start of the breeding season and after witnessing the courtship of two Peregrines who began visiting the box, the female Peregrine laid four eggs.

“The whole process has been captured on the livestream, from the parents first visiting to the eggs hatching after a month or so of incubation. At the time of writing, we have two chicks that have hatched and are doing really well.

“Once the chicks are over a month or so old, they will start to fledge and explore the area, returning to the chimney every now and again for food. Once they get better at flying, we expect to see them less and eventually they will move on to find their own territory elsewhere.

“We’re then likely to have a quieter period ahead of the next breeding season – Peregrine Falcons mate for life so we’re expecting to see the return of our parents for the next season.”

“We’ve had a great response so far on the project. We’re working closely with local schools to educate students about the Peregrines, and we’ve had positive comments from local residents and wildlife groups who have seen our livestream which has captured all the key moments.

“We’re looking forward to continuing the project and a special thanks to all of our partners including Urban Splash, Bradford City Council, Bradford 2025 and the Bradford Urban Wildlife Group for working hard to make this happen.”