This year’s RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch took place over the weekend and residents at Care UK’s Mercia Grange on Lichfield Road were well prepared, with bird feeders filled and binoculars in hand.

During the weekend, the residents recorded the number of birds and other wildlife species that visited the care home’s garden – data which will be used by the RSPB to monitor trends and understand how different species are doing.

Residents got creative with bird-related arts and crafts, and also made fat balls, and threaded monkey nuts to feed the birds, in preparation for the weekend.

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. 

Shirley Gibbs, home manager at Mercia Grange, said: “The residents had a fantastic weekend birdwatching and taking note of all the wonderful birdlife that visited over the weekend.

“While we were in the homes’ garden, we saw a blue tit going in and out of our birdbox – it was fantastic! Jean, a resident of Mercia Grange, also had a robin land just outside her window.

“The sights and sounds provided brilliant conversation starters, which for many sparked fond memories of their younger years, so it was lovely to be able to reminisce, and hear residents and team members sharing stories.

“The work the RSPB does is incredibly important, so we’re delighted that we were among the half a million people taking part in the survey this year.”

Mercia Grange is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full-time residential, nursing, dementia, and short-term respite care. The three-storey care home, which features 67 ensuite bedrooms, has been designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence. The care home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities and includes its own cinema, hairdressing salon and café.

To find out more about Mercia Grange, please call 0121 314 3196 or email customer relations manager, Rachel MacKay on Rachel.Mackay@careuk.com

For more information please visit careuk.com/mercia-grange or go to careuk.com/birdwatch

To find out more about the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch please go to rspb.org.uk