Nature & Wildlife | Posted on January 22nd, 2025 | return to news
Big Garden Birdwatch to take place this weekend
Haskins Garden Centre at Longham has offered some expert advice for people who want to take part in this weekend’s RSPB event.
Storms may be predicted for the weekend, but it is hoped local people will still take part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch, which runs from 24-26 January.
And a garden centre based at Longham has some advice.
Alasdair Urquhart, garden & wildlife expert at Haskins Garden Centre, said: “The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch is the perfect time to take more notice of your local wildlife and support birds during tough weather conditions in the UK. Natural food sources are scarcer in winter, so it is important to look after birds visiting your garden – according to the RSPB, the population of birds in the UK has fallen almost 20 per cent since 1980.
“Hang out feeders with an assortment of foods, such as suet, sunflower seeds, and peanuts to attract a diverse range of feathered friends, like robins and chaffinches. Provide shelter by installing bird boxes in a north-easterly position to protect birds from the brightest sunshine and the coldest winds.”
The RSPB’s annual Big Garden Birdwatch, which started in 1979, gives the charity a valuable snapshot of how garden birds are doing in the UK.
To take part, all you have to do is spend an hour, on any of the three days, watching and counting the birds in the garden, local park, or from a balcony, then send the results to the RSPB. Only count the birds that land, not those flying over. Tell the RSPB the highest number of each bird species you see at any one time – not the total you see in the hour.
You can register online and download a free digital guide by visiting rspb.org.uk/birdwatch.
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