Despite the strong winds and constant heavy rain, courtesy of storm Imogen, the children from KS2 who took part in the RSPB’s ‘Big School Bird Watch’ survey were met by a surprisingly still, clear morning.

Two children from each class wrapped up warmly, put on their boots and braved the cold weather. The children were each given a pair of binoculars and a clipboard to record the species and numbers of birds in our woodland. Judging from their results, they weren’t disappointed!

They were accompanied by Carole and Linda, two local RSPB volunteers, who guided the children around the school woodland, helping them to spot and identify the various species of birds that could be seen.

The children were then treated to an RSPB assembly, where Carole and Linda talked about what the organisation does and the success of the protection of the iconic puffin and red kite. They also gave the children some practical ideas on how to attract birds into their own gardens. The morning ended with the children, who attend the after school club, ‘Ground Force’, making their own yogurt pot fat feeders to hang in their gardens at home.

This is the sixth year that we have taken part in the survey and comparing the results to previous years it showed that the efforts we have put in to attract different bird species into our school grounds are paying off. This survey is taking place in schools all across the country this week and will help the RSPB to build up a picture of the state of bird populations in the UK