Pole mounted *small bird( nesting box.

Pole mounted boxes tend to have issues, so probably why they aren’t really available as much. Are you able to locate near safe cover and out of permanent sunlight?

Not on anything immediately available. Even the tree is too close to a fence so ultimately a cat could jump from there to the nesting box.

Not on anything immediately available. Even the tree is too close to a fence so ultimately a cat could jump from there to the nesting box.

In reply to DangerMouse:

I was on a small screen/keyboard yesterday evening so kept typing long sentences to a minimum. What I was asking (with extra words inserted) was, "Are you able to locate a nestbox on a pole near safe cover and out of permanent sunlight?"

I could put one of the bushes (some kind of evergreen with red berries - probably needs id-ing here) which are actually 2m and 3m tall. Facing away from the sun

I could put one of the bushes (some kind of evergreen with red berries - probably needs id-ing here) which are actually 2m and 3m tall. Facing away from the sun

Happy to try and help with plant i.d. Not overly fluent in shrubs, but can do the basics. Red berries? Cotoneaster, pyracantha etc.

Re aspect, facing away from the sun will still mean it getting as hot as if it is facing it. Many UK species nest in dappled shade, e.g. tree holes, so aren't used to heat. Boxes get hot inside.

The few nextboxes on poles I've seen and know about have all failed. As well as being in the sun all day when the sun is out, they have all been in the middle of gardens, so adults fly to and fro in full open space. Invites predators to pick them off.

You can probably tell I'm not a fan of nestboxes on poles. If you really would like a nestbox in the garden, I personally reckon you're better off either choosing a different species (e.g. house sparrow with nestbox under the eaves and West facing for them is fine from my experience) or seeing if the nestbox can go higher up the tree or further away from the fence.

Not sure of how to attach to a tree further up from the trunk as obviously the branches "branch out" and at no longer vertical.

On a related note. Are there any nails-screws that are particularly made with trees in mind? I am just wondering about any damage that nailing a nesting box up might cause to the tree.
All I know is that copper should be avoided (as using some form of copper is supposedly a way of killing off unwanted trees).

Here is the bush btw. Not suitable to put a nesting box in there unless it is secured to something else (hence the pole which would of course have to be secured in the ground).

In reply to DangerMouse:

I think the shrub is variegated laurel. What sort of tree is it that's close to the fence?

No idea what tree is close to the fence. It does not have any leaves on - so exposed. . .