Students were in for a ‘tweet’ at Harrier Lodge for the Big Garden Birdwatch

Home news

Feb 08, 2019

Harrier Lodge had birdfeeders filled and binoculars at the ready when it took part in this year’s RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch with the help of some local friends. 

Residents at Harrier Lodge participated in the annual wildlife survey, and recorded the number of birds, as well as other wildlife species, in their garden. 

Whitstable Junior School pupils, who are regular visitors to the care home, joined residents to help make seed cakesand placed them around the garden where they waited to spot which creatures came to try the special treats. 

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.  

Diane Collins, home manager at Harrier Lodge, said: “Birdwatching has many unique benefits for older people and we were delighted to be joined by local students who made this event even more special for everyone involved. 

“Birdwatching gives older people a fantastic opportunity to get outdoors and be more active, but it’s perfect for all levels of mobility. This wonderfully inclusive hobby can also be enjoyed across the generations and I know Whitstable Junior School learned a lot from the residents. We all had a fantastic time and will continue our hobby over the coming months.”