Great spotted woodpeckers are increasing in the UK and extending into urban areas. Their welfare and the welfare of species they affect - including nest hole competitors - are linked to woodland management.
Great spotted woodpecker welfare success is linked to dead wood availability - both for foraging (wood-boring invertebrates are a key food) and for nest hole excavation. Gardens and woodlands that retain dead and dying trees provide both feeding and nesting opportunities. The welfare of the species they compete with - particularly hole-nesting birds like blue tits - is affected by woodpecker predation on nests with small entrances. Installing metal entrance plates on nest boxes significantly reduces predation on tit boxes by woodpeckers. The woodpecker's own welfare is well-served by the garden bird feeding revolution; winter peanut availability has contributed significantly to population growth.