RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch gets off to a flying start at Darlington Court

Home news

Jan 13, 2017

Darlington Court is gearing up to take part in this year’s RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch.

Residents from Darlington Court have their binoculars at the ready and their bird feeders filled as they prepare for the world’s largest wildlife survey from Saturday 28^th until Monday 30^th January.

The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch encourages people throughout the UK to take a closer look at the nature on their doorsteps by counting the different birds, as well as recording any non-bird species such as badgers and hedgehogs, which visit their garden in any one hour. This takes place over the last weekend of January.

Home manager, Fiona Wiederkehr, explained why Darlington Court is one of several Care UK care homes taking part in this year’s RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch.  “Spending time outdoors is important for physical and mental wellbeing, and has many benefits for older people, particularly for those who are living with dementia.

“Birdwatching helps bring nature to life, offering colourful sights and sensory stimulation. The sounds of bird song and the appearance of different species can also help bring memories to the surface and act as a valuable reminiscence activity.

“If it’s not too cold outside, birdwatching is an accessible activity that all abilities can enjoy, whether simply sitting in the garden and taking in the sights and sounds of the birds, or filling the bird feeder.

“We really enjoyed taking part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch last year so can’t wait to grab our binoculars and start ‘twitching’ again!”

The home has been preparing the gardens and making fat balls to provide the birds with vital nourishment over the winter months. The recipe for this can be found here: www.careuk.com/birdwatch.

Family carers can get advice and support on how to incorporate practical activities such as bird watching into their daily routines by downloading a copy of Care UK’s Good to go guide to help older people enjoy the outdoors.