Blogger: Erica Howe, Communications Manager
As an adult it's hard to believe that you can still be star struck! I remember when I was a youngster and I'd go to see Norwich City play, the players always seemed so ... famous! I suppose I thought that as an adult you'd grow out of that excitement. But I was wrong! Last Sunday, I had the pleasure of meeting Chris Packham. Yes THE Chris Packham, star of Springwatch and The Really Wild Show (back in the days when that was the most popular show on TV!). Chris is a fantastic naturalist and succeeded in making nature cool to my generation of youngsters. Who else could get so excited about the way a dragonfly emerges from water, delicate and inquisitive? And who else could get so engrossed in a family of barn owls, struggling to raise its young only to grow into graceful, perceptive birds of prey? Chris has a way of making all this come to life. He recognises how important it is to show kids and families what is going on out there, everything that might wriggle, crawl and creep about in your garden and beyond.
The world outside is a fascinating, inspirational place, but sadly, children today are experiencing it less and less. There seems to be little enthusiasm for kids to get their hands grubby in the garden or to go searching under logs for woodlice, but more encouragement to sit indoors and play on computer games. Is this really the way it should be?
Feeding the birds in your garden is a great way to get your children or grandchildren, nieces or nephews, brother or sisters excited about the natural world. It might ignite a spark of interest and who knows, they could grow up to become the next Chris Packham or Michaela Strachan.
Whether you have small children who will be captivated by the friendly robin visiting daily for his fix of fast food, or you like to linger by the patio door on a quiet morning with a cup of tea waiting for a rare glimpse of that goldfinch, feeding the birds is hassle free and pretty cheap to do. Next weekend is Feed the Birds Day and what better way to kick start the Autumn days than to offer a garden sanctuary to birds such as blackbirds, greenfinches, blue tits, song thrushes and goldfinches. It won't take long for you to work out which birds like what food and soon you'll be attracting all sorts. Chris Packham will be green with envy!
There are some GREAT DEALS on bird food across RSPB shops at the moment so it needn't be a burden on your purse; perhaps something for the kids to spend their pocket money on!
Article in Eastern Daily Press on Saturday 22 October (you can find us in the Farm & Country section)
Photo by Kaleel Zibe (rspb-images.com)