On Saturday 27 January, members of Starbeck in Bloom, the Harrogate and District Biodiversity Group and HDNS all joined forces in Starbeck Library to organise the Big Garden Birdwatch for the RSPB.
Since some of us do not have our own gardens, Starbeck in Bloom decided to open up Belmont Field and Starbeck Library garden for a community event. Armed with binoculars, and on behalf of the Harrogate Biodiversity Group, Malcolm Jones led children of various sizes (and adults) on a walk around the library perimeter. Despite the poor weather, they were rewarded with several sightings including a flock of long tailed tits, which caused great interest amongst the ‘new’ birdwatchers.
After this, the participants came indoors and set to work on various craft activities involving birds. For most of the morning the library was full of children working together round a table, absorbed in their set tasks of making bird feeders, bird mobiles and learning about different foods to attract different birds. The usual HDNS photographic display was on show in the main library and refreshments were available.
The Starbeck Big Garden Birdwatch was a credit to the organisers who had worked so hard to involve the local community and to teach them about birds. This was a free event and it was good to see such hard work being rewarded. Hopefully there will be many more joint events organised in the future.
Sonia Starbuck
27 January 2018