RSPB Birdwatch flocks to Cheadle care home

Home news

Jan 22, 2016

Residents and the team at Abney Court care home in Cheadle are gearing up for this year’s RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch with a week-long programme of bird and wildlife activities. 

With binoculars at the ready and bird feeders filled, the Care UK home in Abney Hall Park will be joining in the world’s largest wildlife survey on Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st January. 

Abney Court will be kicking off the week of activities with a special visit from a bird and wildlife expert from Stockport RSPB, who will provide advice for attracting wildlife into the care home’s garden and tips ahead of the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. 

Lifestyle lead, Rachel Slinger has also organised a range of activities for the lead up to the weekend, including a visit from wildlife enthusiasts and official photographers for Abney Hall Park, Stephen Kelly and Tony Braithwaite. They will be on hand to assist with new bird habitats in the home’s garden to ensure they are well located to encourage a variety of different birds. They will also be providing expert knowledge and advice throughout the birdwatch. 

A longstanding RSPB initiative, the 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 over the last weekend of January, as well as recording any non-bird species such as badgers and hedgehogs.

Home manager, Tracy Mitchell, explained why Abney Court is taking part this year: “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 are all looking forward to taking part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. We have been preparing our garden to ensure it is bird friendly and even making fat balls to provide the 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 activity for the residents, who are now all looking forward to playing their part in the RSPB’s important national survey.”