A care home in Epsom was joined by pupils from Epsom Primary School when it took part in this year’s RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch.

Residents from Care UK’s Appleby House on Longmead Road had a busy weekend observing the many feathered friends visiting the garden as they took part in the world’s largest wildlife survey.

With the help of children from Epsom Primary School, residents created a number of tasty treats to attract birds to the care home’s garden for the birdwatch.

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.

Home manager, Shona Bradbury, explained why Appleby House is one of several Care UK care homes that took part in this year’s RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. “We were delighted to be joined by Epsom Primary School who helped the residents create some tasty treats to tempt local birds and other wildlife into the garden. The residents had a lovely afternoon and enjoyed spending time with the students spotting and counting the different birds who came to visit.

“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. 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.”

To attract more birds into your garden, try out Care UK’s fat ball recipe which can be downloaded 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 visiting www.careuk.com and requesting or downloading a copy of Care UK’s Good to go guide to help older people enjoy the outdoors. For more information on Appleby House, please call Shona Bradbury on 0333 4343 002, email Shona.Bradbury@careuk.com, or visit www.careuk.com/appleby-house.

For more information about Care UK, visit www.careuk.com

Article supplied by Madeleine Read