27 WILDLIFE & NATURE EVENTS


2 December Birdwatching Walk Goodrington & Clennon Valley 10am – 12.30pm. Sea watching for divers and grebes before strolling over to Clennon Valley to look at ducks and snipe. Free to RSPB members.Tel: 01626 821344. E-mail: johnmartinallan@icloud.com


Big Garden Bird Watch is Back


26 – 28 January www.rspb.org.uk This annual garden bird audit, co-ordinated by the RSPB, is the world’s largest wildlife survey and allows us to monitor trends in bird populations. Registration opens 12 December 2018. How you can take part? • Choose a place to watch from, relax and watch the birds for an hour • Record your sightings and report it on the BGB website.


Get your garden birdwatch ready! Feed the birds, give the birds a bath and build them a home. Top tips for feeding the birds Different food attracts different birds – crushed or grated nuts attract robins, dunnocks and wrens. Mild grated cheese is a favourite with robins, dunno- cks, blackbirds and song thrushes whilst tits and great spotted woodpeckers are partial to a bit of fat! Birds like: Currants, sultanas, oats, breadcrumbs, cake crumbs, grated cheese, crushed or grated nuts, sun- flower seeds, dry leftover breakfast cereal, cooked rice. Leftover cooked potatoes but not chips. Dried fruit. Uncooked oats. Birds don’t like: Whole, salted or dry roasted nuts, salt, milk and big bits of food. Never leave out food long enough to go mouldy.


How to make a fat ball Fat balls are a great way to feed birds in the winter and


they are very simple to make: Ratio is one part fat to two parts dry mixture.


• Mix melted fat (suet or lard) with a mixture of ingredients such as seeds, nuts, dried fruit, oatmeal, cheese and cake.


• Stir well in a bowl and allow it to set in a container of your choice.


• An empty coconut shell, plastic cup or or old yoghurt container makes an ideal bird cake ‘feeder’.


• Alternatively, you can turn it out onto your bird table when solid.


9 December


Broadsands winter bird walk Broadsands Beach 10.00am - 12.30pm. Brush up on your Gull, Diver and Grebes identification skills at Broadsands with local expert Mike Langman. Meeting point: Broadsands Beach Car Park. Price: £8. www.countryside-trust.org


12 January 2019 Kingsbridge Wildlife Watch Harbour House, Kingsbridge Workshop with the National Marine Aquarium to in- spire children about coastline and our local wildlife. Suitable for primary school aged children. 10.30am – 12.30pm. Contact watch.sl@field-studies-council.org


20 January 2019 Bird Watch Day Cockington Court, Torquay Enjoy bird-themed activities for all with local bird expert Mike Langman. Talk, guided walk and craft activities. 11am – 3pm. Booking necessary for some activities. www.countryside-trust.org.uk


Every Tuesday Get Gardening in Sharpham Sharpham House, Ashprington Join the team of garden volunteers to learn more about gardening, tree-care and horticulture in the 18th century walled kitchen garden, formal gar- dens (designed by Percy Cane ) and woodland gardens. No experience needed and warm lunch provided. Contact Maya Herbolzheimer on 01803 731802 or email volunteer@sharphamtrust.org


Every Thursday Contribute to the Estate’s conservation Sharpham House, Ashprington If you like gratifying, physical work outdoors why not help out with the conservation of Sharpham’s breath-taking parkland – thought to have been laid out by England’s most famous landscaper Capabil- ity Brown. Contact Maya Herbolzheimer on 01803 731802 or email volunteer@sharphamtrust.org


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