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we recently dedicated a piece to talking about the importance of providing food and shelter (both man made and natural). The RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch is taking place this month and you can easily join the half a million people who took part last year and help shape the results of the largest garden wildlife survey in the world.
Over three days in January, 29th-31st, we are encouraged to watch the birds in our gardens or local parks for an hour. Only count birds that land, not flying over. Record the highest number of each bird species you see at any one time, not the total in the hour. I’ve enjoyed watching my new nuthatch visitor over the past month – such a pretty bird (although still no rival to my favourite green woodpecker! Hope they both come a calling when I’m with notepad and pen and survey in hand).
Results from last year show that house sparrows and starlings were the most popular birds counted, while robins remain frequent visitors. Look out for the redwings at this time of year too – visiting us from Scandinavia so enjoying the warmth compared to their native artic abodes!
We’ve welcomed many feathered friends on the programme from ducks to birds of prey – they say never work with children or animals but I have to say we’ve been very lucky with our feathered or furry ‘Love Your Weekend’ friends! My favourite being the glorious shire horses who came all the way from London to grace our paddock (not on foot – or hoof – I should add, they took the luxury travel option of a horse box, a well-deserved rest
for horses used to being on their feet, sorry hooves, all day)! For more equine action, look out for a Gloucestershire based racehorse trainer, soon to be seen on your Sunday morning ITV screens!
Dry stone walling is a sight that many of us will be familiar with in this part of the world, but it was good to welcome an expert to share his skills on camera. Likewise, we’ve covered a whole genre of country crafts from thatching to stone carving, with many more to come.
Although horticulture has been accompanied by hand gel, and microphones have been joined by masks, this really is a countryside concoction to celebrate!
Love Your Weekend is on ITV every Sunday 10am-11.55am.
LIVE24-SEVEN.COM
THROUGH THE GARDEN GATE CAMI L LA BAS S E T T - SMI TH
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