Children’s bird drawings bring joy
Shropshire Wildlife Trust’s Feed the Birds project, which matches volunteers to those at risk of social isolation through bird feeding, has adapted and continued to operate throughout the pandemic.
Ludlow Wildlife WATCH group supported their local scheme by asking children to draw birds to give to the recipients of bird feeder kits distributed to hundreds of households during the first lockdown.
These proved so popular it was decided to produce a chart of common garden birds to give to participants throughout Shropshire.
Schoolchildren from Rushbury and Whixall primary schools got drawing too, resulting in a delightful double-sided A4 identification guide.
"Everyone smiles when they look at it," said Diane Monether, Feed the Birds project co-ordinator.
"I really liked drawing the pictures because of all the bright colours of the birds,” said nine-year-old Rosie Cashmore from Rushbury School.
Bird feeder kits and ID charts have now been given to over 750 households in Shropshire including care homes, people shielding, the elderly, key workers, young families; people struggling with debt or mental health problems; people whose day care centres were closed and people living in rural areas, isolated from their families.
“We are currently looking for more volunteers for Feed the Birds in and around the Whitchurch, Whixall and Ellesmere areas,” added Diane. Contact dianem@shropshirewildlifetrust.org.uk if you’re interested and would like to know what is involved.
Find out more at shropshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/feedthebirds.
