I am genuinely excited about this!

Not only have a we got a fantastic event on at the Forum in Norwich but I've moved house so get to do the Big Garden Birdwatch for a whole new garden.

I've started preparing already. I'm saving my yoghurt pots to make some fatty seed feeders and I'm putting seed out on the bird table (a disused patio table, there's no glamour there) each morning.
The great thing? I can see that it's working. This morning I watched as a blackbird made her cautious way down. Hopping from branch to branch until she's within spying distance. A quick glance round to check the coast is clear and whoosh, she's on the table! 


Blackbird by Nigel Blake (rspb-images.com)

It gives me such pleasure to do these little things for the garden birds and I know many of you will understand where I'm coming from.

That's why the Big Garden Birdwatch is such a great thing to be part of. Nevermind that it provides the RSPB with important baseline figures for garden bird populations (which it does, and that's great). What it really provides is the chance to take the time to appreciate the wonderful wildlife that right outside our windows.

On the 26 and 27 of Jan, whether you're snuggled up with a cup of tea and your scorecard or joining in with a fun local activity, I hope you'll  take the time to get closer to the nature in your garden, park or greenspace.