A KIDDERMINSTER care home filled their bird-feeders and had binoculars ready as they took part in this year’s RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch.

Residents at Care UK’s Brook Court on Oldnall Road participated in the annual wildlife survey, recording the number of birds, as well as other wildlife species, they spotted in their garden.

Students from Foley Park Primary Academy, who are regular visitors to the care home, joined residents to help make bird boxes for the home’s garden.

They also enjoyed writing wildlife-inspired poetry, getting crafty with bird art, and singing songs together.

There was also a visit from the Falconry Club, which brought a host of birds of prey to the homes, including an American Kestrel and Spectacled Owl for residents to meet up close.

Gill Pratt, home manager at Brook Court, said: “The birdwatch is always an incredibly popular activity with residents, so we were delighted that local students and the Falconry Club could join us to make this event even more special for everyone involved.

“Birdwatching gives older people a fantastic opportunity to get outdoors and be more active – but even better, no matter what your mobility level you can take part.

"This wonderfully inclusive hobby can also be enjoyed across the generations, with older people sharing their knowledge of nature and bird life with younger people – I know the pupils from Foley Park Primary Academy learned plenty of new nature knowledge from the residents.

"We all had a fantastic time and will continue our hobby over the coming months.”

2019 marks the 40th anniversary of the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, which encourages people nationwide to count the birds in their gardens to allow the charity to monitor trends and understand how different species are doing.

Brook Court is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full-time residential, nursing, dementia care, as well as short-term respite care.