A HAMILTON nursery have been helping to combat dwindling wildlife by producing an array of hand-painted bird feeders.
The nursery group at Woodhead Primary School partnered with Barratt Homes to design and hang 30 bird feeders, ensuring birds have a steady supply of food during the cold snap.
As frost sets in the ground hardens meaning that birds struggle to source their natural food supplies such as worms and insects that naturally live and rise to the top section of soil.
Over the last 50 years 56% of bird species have declined, while 15% are at risk of disappearing from our shores altogether.
This where the feeders will come in handy to Hamilton’s resident birds.
Scott Jasnosz-Clark, Head Teacher at Woodhead Primary School said “We have been pleased to be involved in this project which has encouraged our children to make a meaningful contribution to the local area and help them link their learning to a real-life context.”
Barratt Homes and the RSPB are working together to boost biodiversity and promote wildlife across the UK including at a number of developments across Scotland.
Estelle Sykes, sales director at Barratt West Scotland said: “We are delighted to be working with Woodhead Primary School to provide food for birds in Hamilton.
“Our partnership with the RSPB is helping us to identify ways for our developments to be more wildlife-friendly and the activity we’re undertaking with Woodhead Primary School will help us to maintain the bird population throughout winter.
“The nursery group has done such a good job of decorating the bird feeders and I can’t wait to see them when they are adorning the school playground. Hopefully the pupils will find lots of feathered friends visiting the school in months to come.”
In the first three years of the partnership, Barratt Homes and the RSPB worked together to agree best practice on what are the best plants and shrubs to use in gardens, the best times in the year to survey local species and how to make good use of existing nature features on new developments.
In addition, the partnership is helping home owners by offering guidance and advice on how to help nature thrive.
Paul Stephen, Business Conservation Advisor, RSPB said: “This is a wonderful activity for helping the next generation to discover the wildlife that surrounds them and learn how they can encourage birds to visit their school. Highlighting just how easy it is to help our wildlife.
“At this time of year food becomes harder to find, so birds will start to search more areas. Placing a simple homemade bird feeder in your garden will really help the birds over the winter.”
