RSPB Birdwatch flocks back to Field Lodge care home

Home news

Jan 26, 2016

Residents and the care team at Field Lodge care home in St Ives are gearing up to take part in this year’s RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch.

With binoculars at the ready and bird feeders filled, the Care UK home on London Road will be joining in the world’s largest wildlife survey with a count on Saturday 23rd January. Throughout the day, residents will have the chance to get up close to some lesser-spotted feathered friends – such as Owls and Hawks – when representatives from The Raptor Foundation visit the home.

A longstanding RSPB initiative, 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 which visit their garden in any one hour, as well as recording any non-bird species such as badgers and hedgehogs.

This will be the second consecutive year Field Lodge has taken part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, with the home’s participation in 2015 deemed a great success by nature-loving residents.

Home manager, Lisa Houghton, said: “Staying active and enjoying the outdoors can be extremely valuable for the residents, particularly those living with dementia. The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch provides a great opportunity for residents to access outside spaces and reap the emotional, social and physical benefits this can bring.

“The quiet, calming nature of bird watching can help lower anxiety, while the colourful sights and distinctive sounds of our feathered friends provide plenty of sensory stimulation. Bird watching can also be a valuable reminiscence activity, with the appearance of certain species and the sounds of birdsong evoking memories and helping residents recall their love of nature.

“With so many benefits, we were keen to repeat the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch and hope it will be bigger and better than before. This year, we have been busy making fat balls to provide visiting birds with vital nourishment over the winter months. The recipe can be downloaded at: www.careuk.com/birdwatch.

“Playing an active role in preparations for the birdwatch has helped to provide meaningful and fulfilling occupation for the residents, who are now all looking forward to a visit from The Raptor Foundation and to playing their part in the RSPB’s important national survey.”

For more information on Field Lodge please email customer relations manager, Toby Swallow, at toby.swallow@careuk.com Visit: www.careuk.com/birdwatch for more information about birdwatching and to download Care UK’s fat ball recipe.

The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch has taken place annually over the last 35 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.