Wildlife Gardening - Green Gardening Guide » RSPB

Northern Ireland is Red squirrel garden heaven

Alan — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 10:59:07 +0000

This summer RSPB asked U.K. residents to take an hour and count some of the different species of wildlife found in their gardens, patios and in local school grounds and parks.

The survey, called Make Your Nature Count, indicates that Northern Ireland is the best place to spot one of the country’s few remaining red squirrels. These cute little creatures are still rare, but RSPB says that they’re happy to know there are still pockets of the squirrels surviving after the unusually harsh winter, and the organization is working hard to protect them.

Healthier populations of other species were also found in Northern Ireland; RSPB reported that this phenomenon is due mostly to the human population providing food and safe habitats for different wildlife species. An average of 6.16 house sparrows per garden were counted, far exceeding the national average of 4.48, with the sparrows seen in 81.9% of Northern Ireland gardens.

Young robins and song thrushes were also counted in numbers higher than average for the rest of the country. In addition, gardens in this area attracted more finches, jackdaws and coal tits than other parts of the U.K.

RSPB also reported that although summer migrants such as house martins and swifts have been declining markedly in numbers, more of them were spotted in Northern Ireland than any other area of the U.K. Almost 11% of participants reported colonies of house martins nesting under their eaves, compared to a mere 4% average in the rest of the country.

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RSPB says use logs to attract garden insects and birds

Alan — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:34:47 +0000

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is England’s largest and most beloved conservation charity, and they have some great plans for the preservation of the country’s natural habitats and wildlife. RSPB also has suggestions for every human resident to play some small part in the battle to save countless species of birds and other creatures from extinction in the U.K.

While fruit-bearing trees and vines are certainly essential, RSPB says we must remember that dead wood and other ‘refuse’ provide ideal habitats for many of the insects and invertebrates as well as lichens, moss and fungi that make up a crucial part of the food chain, especially for birds. Spokespersons for RSPB offer several ideas that almost anyone can implement in a yard, garden or even a patio or balcony.

Insect habitats, perches and nesting places can be derived from dead or decaying wood, whether it’s a tree or a stack of mouldering firewood or just ordinary cuttings from gardening and landscaping activities. RSPB recommends ‘planting’ logs or parts of them in tubs filled with soil and wood chips if space is limited, such as on a balcony or other urban area.

If you have a bit of ground to work with, leave a corner free and contrive a wildlife refuge in miniature. A stack of decaying fireplace logs will turn into a feeding ground for many species of birds, and a tree with a dead limb or two makes an ideal perch where birds can sing and fluff their feathers.

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RSPB partners with BUPA residents

Alan — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 00:57:11 +0000

The RSPB has partnered with a private health firm in order to teach home residents and staff members the benefits that wildlife gardening can bring. The new project will work with 11 BUPA care homes throughout Wales and the Midlands, including the Ashby Court Nursing and Residential Home in Ashby and the Branston Court Nursing Home in Burton.

The aim of the project is to integrate the Home for Wildlife initiative by the RSPB with home care programmes that serve as activities for residents.

The project began with a formal training day, in which chefs, activity co-ordinators, maintenance staff, and gardeners all met to learn how to create better grounds around the homes that would attract wildlife. They also were instructed on how to involve residents in their wildlife focused activities.

Research from the RSPB indicates that those recovering from illnesses and the elderly benefit from having easy access to nature and the additional benefits of gardening include an increase in mental and physical activity, friendship building, and an increase in sense of purpose.

Tim Seal, the Bupa Midlands director, stated that the home care residence is delighted to have partnered with such as well known charity. He went on to say that the beauty of the new partnership is that all of the residents in the home can find a new outlet for their creativity and enjoy the relaxation that gardening for wildlife can bring.

Most Bupa care homes already have gardens that hold large potential for future development and wildlife enhancement.

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RSPB garden wildlife survey

Alan — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 09:31:22 +0000

Lancashire’s citizens are asked to note down every piece of wildlife that snuffles, sings, barks, or chirps out in their garden in order to help out a new wildlife survey.

The RSPB is launching the survey to discover what kinds of wildlife are living in the region’s gardens by asking people to record what they see in their own gardens.

Results from the study so far show that about 25% of all Lancashire gardens have hedgehogs in them with another half that house frogs. Ten percent of those that contributed to the survey also stated that they see foxes stop by on a regular basis.

RSPB member Carolyn Jarvis stated that during the spring gardens are overflowing with wildlife so it’s a great time to get out there and observe it. She also noted that it is helpful to record the wildlife while you are there so that the organization can see which species are doing well and which species may need a little aid.

The survey from last year showed that there are about ten species of birds seen on a regular basis within UK gardens. The most popular visitor in gardens in Lancashire is the blackbird which was found in 94% of all gardens that participated. The house sparrow was second with spotting in 75% of the gardens.

Lancashire wildlife member, Barrie Tyrer, stated that wildlife in gardens is important from both the educational point of view and from an entertainment point of view.

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RSPB garden bird survey most successful ever

Alan — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 08:32:43 +0000

It is only a week after the RSPB sent out the largest wildlife survey and already about a quarter of a million results have been sent into the organization.

With this large response the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch is looking like it will be one of the largest yet, with 5m birds already tabulated with much larger figures anticipated to be on their way.

Experts will soon start to analyze the data in order to study the trends of garden birds with an early prognosis of how the cold spell has affected the birds this year.

Those who still have their records are asked to turn them in as soon as possible.

RSPB is still looking for more records because the more that are received the higher the accuracy level of their analysis. The birds were officially counted back on the last two days of January.

Due to the large surge of interest from the public the RSPB has been able to pass its first milestone adding 100,000 signatures to their ‘Letter to the Future’ which is pleads with politicians to work towards preserving nature for future generations.

Head of sustainable development at RSPB, Martin Harper, stated that the amount of support offered is overwhelming and that it signifies that people care about the world that surrounds them. He continued to say that due to the fact this is a general election year it is important that the public send a clear notice of what they care about to the future leaders of government.

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