Educating the next generation of birdwatchers
As research from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) reveals that 38 million birds have been lost from UK skies in the last 50 years, Yapton housebuilder Barratt David Wilson Homes is helping children at Potter’s House PreSchool to create a home for native birds in their playground.
The school is next door to the housebuilder’s Ryebank Gate development on Drove Lane, so the housebuilder donated a bird table and food to the pre-school to celebrate the RSPB's Big Schools’ Birdwatch.Takingplacebetween January 6 and February 20 2023, the Big Schools' Birdwatch is a simple survey that schools can complete to contribute to the world's largest wildlife survey. Thecampaignhelpsmonitorthe densityanddiversityofbirdpopulations. Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties has provided an RSPB-approved bird table made from sustainably sourced FSC-certified wood, which will help to attract native species to Potter’s House Pre-School, includingbluetits,housesparrows, robins, wrens and wagtails.
MsSally-AnnPotter,ownerof Potter’s House Pre-School, said: “We are passionate about teaching pupils from a young age the importance of preserving wildlife, so we were excited to have ourveryownbirdtablewithinthe nursery grounds. The table from
Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties will enhance the children’s interaction with our local wildlife, which we will be able to document and pass on through the Big Schools’ Birdwatch. We have placed the table in a sheltered location to encourage as many birds to eat at the table as possible, and look forward to keeping track of these with our pupils.”
Kimberley Benson, sales and marketing director at Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties, said: “As a sustainable housebuilder and longstanding corporate partner of the RSPB, our goal is to create a safe home for nature and humans alike at ourdevelopmentsandsurroundingareas.Educatingthenextgeneration is a vital part of our work, so we are pleased to have been able to partner with our neighbour Potter’s House Pre-School andprovidethisbirdtableforthe children. We hope this donation will encourage the children to take similar small steps to help protectourlocalbirdsbywelcoming wildlife onto their grounds.”
Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties is currently building new homes at Ryebank Gate, next door to Potter’s House PreSchool, where the housebuilder has installed a range of wildlife friendly features including bat boxes, biodiversity areas and wildflower planting.