More than half a million people across the UK are expected to take part in this year’s ‘Big Garden Birdwatch’ campaign organised by the RSPB. People are being asked to count the birds in their garden for one hour over the weekend of 30 – 31 January 2016.
In support of this, the North York Moors National Park are hosting a variety of activities at both our Moors National Park Visitor Centre, Danby and Sutton Bank Visitor Centre from 11 am – 4 pm on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 January.
Both centres will be offering children’s crafts and nature trails, bird spotting, helping us with our daily counts and information to take away and do at home, special offers on bird food and bird products and activity packs will be available to borrow containing binoculars, spotter sheets, stories and games.
At Sutton Bank Visitor Centre there is a dedicated indoor bird watching point where Chris Pye of RSPB Bempton Cliffs will be hosting a special watch from 2pm – 3pm on both days. Everyone is welcome to come along to find out about the wildlife and will be given spotter packs to take home to complete. In addition Peter Reynolds, Wildlife Artist will be on site for people to talk to along with an exhibition from the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.
Chris Pye of RSPB Bempton Cliffs and Sutton Bank Visitor Centre Assistant said:
“The Big Garden Birdwatch provides a vital snapshot of the state of nature in the UK, with more than half a million people taking part. Our weekend event is a great opportunity to brush up on your birding skills, whilst also being great fun for all the family!”
Both visitor centres are open at weekends from 10:30 am – 4 pm, have outdoor playing facilities, walking trails, café, toilets and shop.
For more information on the centres visit www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/suttonbank and www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/themoorscentre
Photo: North East Wildlife