Big Garden Birdwatch - begin 2024 by spending an hour helping nature and helping yourself!

And finally, what better thing to do over the weekend than to spend an hour birdwatching from your window?

Big Garden Birdwatch - begin 2024 by spending an hour helping nature and helping yourself! - RSPB

large fat filled cocnut shell hanging on stroing, perched on side is a great tit (green, blue and yellow bird with black head and white cheeks) — Great tit (Parus major), on RSPB coconut treat feeder ( photo: Chris Gomersall; rspb-images.com)

The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch is the largest garden wildlife survey in the world and provides a vital annual snapshot of how garden birds are faring in the UK

The event is a simple and enjoyable opportunity for everyone to reconnect with nature, following a Government report that over a million fewer people are spending time in nature since 2020
The RSPB is calling on the UK to spend an hour watching the birds to help nature and enjoy the personal mental health benefits of mindful time in our natural world
This weekend (26, 27 and 28 January) the RSPB is inviting the nation to spend a relaxing hour reconnecting with nature by taking part in the world’s biggest garden wildlife survey.

During the Covid pandemic, and especially through lockdown, research showed that nature provided a vital outlet to many people seeking some calm during a stressful and worrying time. However, a recent report published by the Office for National Statistics’ UK natural capital accounts (UK natural capital accounts - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)) revealed that since 2020 we have reverted to our previous habits and over a million fewer people are now spending time in nature and are therefore missing out on the proven mental health benefits of being immersed in our amazing natural world.

So this year’s Big Garden Birdwatch is an opportunity to reconnect with nature and help the UK’s birds when they most need it too. Every winter, remaining berries and seedheads, helped by feeders and bird tables, become an important source of food for many of our best known and loved birds as usual food sources become harder to find. Which means homes and gardens that are offering bird food in particular have a wonderful opportunity to see flashes of colour as they help our wildlife through the winter.

To take part in Big Garden Birdwatch visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch