‘Lockdowns have reignited a love of nature for many’

WATCHING birds and listening to birdsong have helped people during the pandemic, polling in the run-up to the RSPB’S Big Garden Birdwatch has suggested.

The wildlife charity is expecting high levels of participation in its annual survey of garden birds this weekend. It has been running for 42 years, and is encouraging people to take part to help “lift spirits” in the latest lockdown.

A survey for the RSPB by Yougov ahead of the Big Garden Birdwatch reveals that nearly two thirds of those polled (63 per cent) felt watching birds and hearing their song added to their enjoyment of life, especially in the past 12 months.

More than half (51 per cent) of the 2,071 adults quizzed said the coronavirus pandemic had made them more aware of the nature around them, and two-fifths said they had spotted wildlife in their local area they had not noticed before.

Beccy Speight, the RSPB’S chief executive, said: “Lockdowns have brought few benefits, but the last year has either started or reignited a love of nature for many people.

“Nature is soul-food to us humans. The results of this survey indicate we may emerge from this pandemic a new generation of nature lovers.

“We know the bleak winter weather has made lockdown restrictions feel unbearable for many, but we hope the Birdwatch will help lift spirits and remind people nature is an incredible, reassuring constant when everything else has been disrupted. Nature will get us through.”