A care home in Eye is gearing up to take part in this year’s RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch.
Residents from Care UK’s Hartismere Place on Castleton Way have their binoculars at the ready and their bird feeders filled as they prepare for the world’s largest wildlife survey from Saturday 28th until Wednesday 1st February.
The home has invited Claire Boothby from the British Trust of Ornithology and St Peter and St Paul CE Primary School to join them for the birdwatch.
The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch encourages people throughout the UK to take a closer look at the nature on their doorsteps by counting the different birds, as well as recording any non-bird species such as badgers and hedgehogs, which visit their garden in any one hour. This takes place over the last weekend of January.
Home manager, Cathryn Weed, explained why Hartismere Place is one of several Care UK care homes taking part in this year’s RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. “Spending time outdoors is important for physical and mental wellbeing, and has many benefits for older people, particularly for those who are living with dementia.
“Birdwatching helps bring nature to life, offering colourful sights and sensory stimulation. The sounds of bird song and the appearance of different species can also help bring memories to the surface and act as a valuable reminiscence activity.
“If it’s not too cold outside, birdwatching is an accessible activity that all abilities can enjoy, whether simply sitting in the garden and taking in the sights and sounds of the birds, or filling the bird feeder.
“We really enjoyed taking part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch last year so can’t wait to grab our binoculars and start ‘twitching’ again!”
The home has been preparing the gardens and making fat balls to provide the birds with vital nourishment over the winter months. The recipe for this can be found here: www.careuk.com/birdwatch.
Family carers can get advice and support on how to incorporate practical activities such as bird watching into their daily routines by visiting www.careuk.com and requesting or downloading a copy of Care UK’s Good to go guide to help older people enjoy the outdoors.
For more information on Hartismere Place, please call customer relations manager, Angela Hodge, on 01379 888144 or email angela.hodge@careuk.com. For more information on which Care UK homes are taking part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, please go to www.careuk.com/birds.
The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch has taken place annually over the last 37 years, with the information collected each year helping the RSPB form a picture of bird populations across the country and highlighting any trends or changes. For more information, please go to www.rspb.org.uk.
Care UK runs 110 care homes and also provides care for thousands of people living in their own homes. For more general information, please go to www.careuk.com