Residents at Sutton care home flock together for RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch

 

Residents at a care home in Sutton had their binoculars at the ready when they invited a school to take part in this year’s RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch.

Residents at Care UK’s Tennyson Grange, on Westmead Road, were joined by the 5^th Sutton Scouts for a busy afternoon painting bird boxes and observing the many feathered friends visiting the home’s garden, when they took part in the world’s largest garden wildlife survey.

Every year, the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch sees more than half a million people nationwide take part, by counting the birds that they spot in their garden within one hour, as well as other garden species such as badgers and hedgehogs. This important survey allows the RSPB to monitor species population and trends year to year.

Keen to learn more about identifying their favourite birds, residents and children enjoyed an arts and crafts session, where they painted bird boxes they created themselves from wooden pallets. Everyone enjoyed rolling up their sleeves as they decorated the boxes, ready to attract some feathered friends for monitoring.

Brighton Nyagomo, General Manager at Tennyson Grange, said: “We were delighted to be part of the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch again this year and to be playing our part in this important national survey. It was great to learn more about our wildlife neighbours and to welcome the 5^th Sutton Scouts for a fun day of bird spotting.

“Birdwatching is a peaceful activity, with vibrant colours and distinctive bird songs also providing calming, sensory stimulation. It’s a hobby that residents can enjoy from the comfort of an armchair, no matter what the weather, thanks to our carefully positioned feeders. 

“The Birdwatch also proved to be a valuable relaxing activity for those residents living with dementia, and everyone enjoyed spotting and naming the many bird and wildlife species which paid us a visit throughout the day. We’ve got our binoculars at the ready for the next flock to fly across Tennyson Grange!”

Designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, Tennyson Grange provides full-time residential, dementia and nursing care, as well as short-term respite care, and incorporates plenty of space for hobby and leisure activities. The layout of the home has been configured to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage social interaction among the residents.