The Barn Owl Trust is providing an owl database to local councils

The Barn Owl Trust, in partnership with Cornwall Wildlife Trust, is providing an owl database to local authorities in the county.

Councils will now check if any owls are in residence before granting planning permission for farm buildings.

It will help protect part of the owls' habitat which is fast disappearing.

David Ramsden, of the Barn Owl Trust, said: "It is unique because the Barn Owl Trust mainly operates in Devon and Cornwall in terms of gathering information on wild barn owls.

"It is only with that information that we can do this kind of work.

"Barn owls have not been systematically recorded in any other part of the country, or in fact, any other part of the world, in the way we have done it in Devon and Cornwall."

Will and Carol Spearing have built a nesting box into their home

One recent barn conversion in the Tamar Valley was designed with owls in mind, with a little nesting box built into the roof.

Owners Will and Carol Spearing said barn owls had been nesting there since the building work had started.

Mr Spearing said: "It is easy to build a nesting box. It is not rocket science.

"You can use an old tea chest or a barrel, or just make it out of plywood."

Mrs Spearing said the rewards of providing a habitat for barn owls were great.