Cedrus House residents flock together for birdwatch

Home news

Jan 23, 2019

Residents Cedrus House have their binoculars at the ready ahead of the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. 

Preparations are underway, as Cedrus House gears up to take part in the world’s largest garden wildlife survey from Saturday 26th January until Monday 28th January.

On 28th January, from 2pm - 3pm, the home is inviting the community to join residents in identifying and counting the number of birds visiting the garden as part of the Big Garden Birdwatch Survey.

The home has invited Alex Bass, a wildlife tour guide and speaker, to join them for the occasion, who will be doing a presentation on local wildlife, including bird identification by sight, song and call, and identification of wildlife.

Residents and members of the home’s day centre will also be taking part in a variety of activities related to our feathered friends, including a special trip to wildlife oasis, Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve, as well as creating artwork with children from a local nursery and taking part in a bird trail walk.

2019 marks the 40th anniversary of the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, which encourages people nationwide to count the birds in their gardens to allow the charity to monitor trends and understand how different species are doing. Data from over half a million people is then compared year-on-year to provide a ‘snapshot’ of bird numbers across the UK.  

Home manager, Michelle Webster, explained why taking part in the Birdwatch is important for residents at Cedrus House: “We’ve got our binoculars at the ready and we’re raring to go for this year’s Big Garden Birdwatch! 

“The annual event provides a great opportunity to get outside and connect with nature – something which has many therapeutic benefits, especially for those living with dementia. It’s a real sensory experience for residents, who have the opportunity to experience the sights, sounds and textures of a crisp January day – all while looking out for visiting feathered friends! 

“We’re sure this year’s event will be a flying success, and we’re looking forward to finding out which types of wildlife we are sharing our garden with here at Cedrus House!”