Photo by Peter Miller/Flickr, used under a Creative Commons licence

Jesmond Dene is hosting the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch this weekend – a free family event focused around the birds that we see regularly, yet probably know little about.

Running on Saturday, January 30th from 10.30am to 2.30pm, the RSPB will be offering guided walks, bird box and bird feeder creation sessions, and a treasure hunt following hidden clues on bird nests.

Nationwide more than half a million people are expected to participate by recording the birds they see in their gardens for an hour, or by attending events like the one at Jesmond Dene, across the weekend. Those participating will be contributing “to the world’s largest wildlife survey”.

Sarah Capes from the Jesmond Dene Visitors Centre told JesmondLocal that the Big Garden Birdwatch is a way “to get enthused” about nature. The birdwatch has been run by the RSPB for over 30 years, and is visiting Jesmond Dene for the second time. The benefits of this program are not only the involvement of the community, but also according to Capes, it “gives really good data about the increase or decrease of bird species overall.”