Eagle-eyed Cedrus House residents have a twitching good time for nationwide birdwatch

Home news

Feb 15, 2019

Residents at Cedrus House had the chance to get up close with some feathered friends to mark the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch.

The team at Cedrus House made a special trip to local wildlife oasis, Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve, to identify different bird species as part of the nationwide bird survey. 

In addition to a visit to Lackford Lakes, the residents and day club members also created bird-related arts and crafts to display around the home, and enjoyed an informative talk from local wildlife expert, Alex Bass, on how to identify birds by sight, song and call.

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.  

Michelle Webster, home manager at Cedrus House, said: “The birdwatch is a popular activity with residents every year, so we were excited to celebrate this year with a trip to our local nature reserve. All of the residents enjoyed participating in the survey, learning more about British wildlife and taking in the beautiful scenery at the Lackford Lakes. 

“Outdoor activities are important for both physical and mental wellbeing, and have many benefits for older people, particularly for those who are living with dementia. Birdwatching can act as a valuable reminiscence activity, as the distinctive sights and sounds of birds in the garden can help evoke memories – we can’t wait to plan our next trip to the lakes to visit our new feathered friends!”