Care home residents seek close up view of local wildlife

Photo: Bupa resident Arthur Clark, 77, on the look out for binoculars for Wildlife Week with Bupa's community affairs manager Siobhan Drane and RSPB's senior project manager, Richard Bashford 

Sept 2011

Residents in care homes across the UK are on the look out for unwanted binoculars as part of their preparations for Bupa's Wildlife Week (26 September - 2 October), a new Bupa Care Homes initiative that hopes to turn its grounds and gardens into wildlife havens.

Teaming up with the with the Royal Protection for the Society of Birds (RSPB), staff and residents are receiving expert advice from the charity about the best ways to make their surroundings more appealing to nature and want help in spotting any new wildlife visitors to the homes.

The binoculars will be used throughout the week to take a closer look at wildlife and later given to the RSPB to send on to conservation and education projects throughout the world.

Bupa's community affairs manager, Siobhan Drane, said,

"We're looking for binoculars or spotting scopes that may be hiding away, unused in drawers and cupboards, so we can put them to good use and really bring Wildlife Week to life for our residents. Whether used for spotting birds or butterflies, hedgehogs or bees, we're hoping our care homes will be hives of activity."

RSPB research has shown that access to nature and green spaces is important for older people and those recovering from illness, with the benefits of wildlife gardening including increased physical and mental activity as well as developing a sense of purpose.

The partnership between Bupa and the RSPB has evolved from the charity's 'Homes for Wildlife' project, which offers gardening advice to try and attract species that are currently in decline inBritain.

Richard Bashford, the RSPB's senior project manager, said,

"This is a fantastic partnership which will see over 300 Bupa care homes taking really positive steps to encourage more wildlife intoBritain's grounds and gardens.

"Already there has been so much enthusiasm from staff and residents about the benefits of the project, and we hope it will make a real difference to wildlife which may be struggling to find the right habitats to thrive."

To find a local Bupa care home to donate some binoculars to, call 0845 600 4622 or email wildlife@bupa.com. For more information about the RSPB's project, Bupa's Wildlife Week and advice on how to make your home appealing to wildlife visit www.bupa.co.uk/wildlife.

Client: Bupa Care Homes