Hello,
We've recently bought a house and have opened up the fireplaces. The ones on the left side of the house are fine and have been properly sealed but when we went to do the one on the right hand side of the house, we found the biggest mess of sticks and flies I've ever seen. The nest is in the top of the chimney stack with the sticks coming right down to the top of the fireplace opening.
Since late Feb/ early March, we'd noticed the jackdaws building a nest and left it three weeks until we couldn't hear the chicks scuffling about or see the birds using the nest (early June) to remove the plasterboard blocking the old fireplace.
There is a really good chimney sweep locally who I have contacted on the phone, who said he's not able to touch the nest until late August but since the birds have well and truly gone, if we were to photograph that they're no longer in the nest as they were an early brood, could we have him clear the chimney without facing a fine?
Thanks in advance!
You are correct CL ... here are the exceptions ... www.rspb.org.uk/.../ I think it would be best to contact Defra & explain the circumstances & act on what they say!
To contact us regarding policy enquiries (not covered by the above guidance) please email defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk
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WendyBartter said:So did you get the go ahead for clearing nest away before end of season?
Certainly would,as this would help anyone else looking in.
Always interested in outcomes....