Local Home Builder Partners With Rowley Lane Junior School Primary School To Create A New Home For Nature

Local home builder, Barratt Developments Yorkshire West, is celebrating its ongoing partnership with the wildlife charity, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) by collaborating with Rowley Lane Junior School to create a new home for the school’s local bird wildlife.

In a bid to encourage more people to get involved with their local wildlife, and following the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch earlier this month, Barratt Developments donated a selection of design-your-own bird feeding kits to a number of classes at Rowley Lane Junior School, which is near to its Helme Ridge development in Meltham, for the children to design and get creative with, before installing on the school grounds for them to observe the local wildlife.

Barratt Developments’ commitment to increasing wildlife across West Yorkshire is now deemed even more important due to scientific evidence that highlights how birdwatching helps boost mental health and wellbeing[1]. What’s more, living in environments with more birds and trees significantly lessens the feelings of anxiety and stress, whilst urban green spaces helps to reduce residents’ sense of isolation and loneliness[2].

Jo Birkinshaw, Year 6 Teacher and Upper KS2 Phase Leader at Rowley Lane Junior School said:
‘This was a wonderful activity led by Barratt Developments and the children were really excited to get involved. Through the stressful times of Covid-19, it gave the children something new and exciting to look forward to and get involved with. They loved getting creative in the classroom by designing their own bird feeders, whilst learning about wildlife conservation right here at the school. It’s great to see that the children are now watching out for birds visiting the school too!”

In partnership with the RSPB, Barratt Developments’ is sharing its tips on how Huddersfield residents can encourage birds to their gardens all year-round:

Make a bird cafe:
Birds appreciate being fed at any time of the year, but especially now in the coldest part of the year. Simply set up an apple feeder, sprinkle out leftovers or install a bird feeder. Be sure to check out the RSPB website for advice on what foods are safe for birds, as some can be harmful to them.

Set up a drinks station:
Water is important for birds, not only for drinking but to clean their feathers too. Buying a bird bath or even making your own with an upturned bin lid will do the trick. Throwing in some stones or gravel in the bottom can help stop the bird from slipping.

Give birds a home:
With spring right around the corner, birds will be looking for a home for this year's hatchlings. You can either buy a nest box, or make your own by following the step-by-step instructions on the RSPB website.

Barratt Developments are committed to boosting wildlife and building nature-friendly developments, which is why the home builder is continuing to install bird feeders and birdhouses at its Helme Ridge development in Meltham.

Sales Director, Sam Wood from Barratt Developments Yorkshire West commented:
‘As a leading home builder in the area, we’re keen to work closely with the local residents and schools, to encourage them to welcome wildlife into their gardens. It was a pleasure to work with Rowley Lane Junior School and we hope that the children enjoyed this activity! By making our spaces as nature-friendly as possible, together we can further encourage and nurture the local wildlife within the local area.”

For more information about the RSPB, please visit: www.rspb.org.uk

[1] https://www.blueskywildlife.com/bird-watching-in-lockdown-good-for-your-mental-health/
[2] https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2016/11/09/green-space-mental-wellbeing-and-sustainable-communities/