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

 

To celebrate the annual RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch last weekend, birds and wildlife of all shapes and sizes were spotted at a care home in Sway. 

Residents at Care UK’s Sway Place, on Church Lane, dusted off their binoculars for a busy afternoon 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, Sway Place residents enjoyed an arts and crafts session, where they drew and painted birds using watercolour paints. Everyone enjoyed rolling up their sleeves as they gathered birdseed and plastic bottles to create bird feeders to hang in the home’s garden, ready to attract some birds for monitoring. The home also organised an interactive Bird of Prey Visit where residents had encounters with four different birds of prey. 

Commenting on the afternoon, resident Marion Waterton, said “I was overjoyed to see a barn owl up close. They are so magical with their heart-shaped faces and silent flight, I couldn’t quite believe my eyes to see one up close. It was a wonderful experience, one that will I cherish always.”

Francis Owusu Bosompin, General Manager at Sway Place, 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. 

“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 Sway Place!”

Designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, Sway Place incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities. The home provides full-time residential care, dementia care and respite care. The layout of the building is configured into a series of individual suites, and 14 independent living cottages, each having a dedicated lounge/dining room to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities.