In This Issue
Dobbies buy Johnsons of Boston
Best Easter fortnight since 2012 - GTN Bestsellers exclusive analysis
Iglu 360 is the perfect outdoor dining experience for garden centres
Partnership blooms as 'Caulders at Scotmid' springs up
Easter sales records, reports GTN Bestsellers
Dobbies announces ‘Not Your Average Gardener’ awards
Industry help gets horti education unit back up and running
If plants are in stock they are selling
RHS and BBC launch ‘grow and show’ competition
Deco-Pak marathon Mar-CHING for Garden Re-Leaf Day
New rules allowing socialising in gardens deliver strong boost to garden centre sales
Squire’s financial results encouraging despite challenges
Large Fire at Longacres Shepperton - UPDATED
Nicholas Marshall returns... again
Jumping for joy as Cardwell Garden Centre re-opens
Gardening voted as one of the most popular pastimes
Bents announces fundraising total and welcomes new charity
Lawns and gardening promote better mental health
Desch Plantpak presents: Colour Your Story, autumn/winter
Inside Outside... A New Beginning for the garden market - Read GTN's March Issue on-line now
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Planters announce closure for Duke of Edinburgh's funeral
Gaps on shelves as sales stay high
Zoo proposal for former garden centre rejected
50% more veg being grown
One million take part in record-breaking RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch
Growing Media up by 109%
Watch Your Back! returns with new scheme designed to keep everyone in horticulture sun protected.
Buckingham Palace Garden to open to visitors
RHS and Ulster Weavers announce new kitchen textiles range
Wildflowers for The Queen - a celebration of wildflower meadows
The best of last week's
Easter thank you to growers, manufacturers & distributors from British Garden Centres
Derek Bunker adds his thanks to suppliers for "their efforts throughout this amazing period in garden centre history"
East Yorkshire garden centre sells for £1.5m
Garden Centres re-open in Scotland... and it snows!
Barton Grange Christmas 2020 - Exclusive GTN Xtra Photo Tour
Squires Badshot Lea - Christmas 2020
Perrywood at Christmas 2020 - with correct photo gallery now...
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to the GTN Bestsellers printed weekly newsletter
All the latest news from the world of pet products
Vital to launch educational Pet Club
Dog theft increases by 19% during lockdown
Send us your news and great ideas

Contact us with your news.

Email trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk or call the GTN News team on 07973 504214

 

Sponsored by:


One million take part in record-breaking RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch
 

The number of nature lovers who took part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch soared to a million people this winter after a year of lockdown restrictions saw people turn to nature for comfort.

 

Now in its 42nd year, the Big Garden Birdwatch is a chance for people of all ages to count the number of birds that visit their garden helping the RSPB build up a picture of how they are doing. This year over a million people across the UK took part, counting 17 million birds.

 

Hopes were raised for a bumper participation this year after results from a YouGov survey revealed the pandemic is making the public more aware of nature in their local area, with 41% seeing wildlife near their homes over the last 12 months that they had never noticed before.  

 

The YouGov survey of 2,071 adults across the UK revealed 63% of people said watching the birds and hearing their song added to their enjoyment of life since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, with more than half of those surveyed (51%) believing the pandemic has made them more aware of the nature around them.  

 

When the final Big Garden Birdwatch results were counted, the RSPB was blown away by the phenomenal response from the public. Over the first three days of submissions alone, numbers were up 85% compared to the same time period in 2020.

 

Beccy Speight, RSPB CEO said: “We have been blown away by the enthusiasm with which people have taken part in the Birdwatch this year. Lockdowns have brought few benefits, but the last year has either started or reignited a love of nature for many people, right on their doorsteps.

 

“This winter has been a bleak ordeal but as the dawn chorus starts to burst into song and the blossom starts to flower from the trees once more, we are emerging from this pandemic a new generation of nature lovers.

 

“We hope the Birdwatch has kindled a new passion for wildlife for the thousands who took part for the first time this year – we need every voice raised to stand up for nature. The wildlife that gave us so much interest and solace is now just a fraction of what should be there. On the back of this wave of public support, we need the government to take the global leadership, policy and legislative opportunities open to it this year to reverse the decline and restore nature now.”

 

The event held over the last weekend in January revealed the house sparrow held on to its number one spot but 16 out of the top 20 bird species showed declines in average counts compared to last year. Only robins, blackbirds, carrion crows and the song thrush saw an increase on 2020.  

 

Over its four decades, Big Garden Birdwatch has highlighted the winners and losers in the garden bird world. It was first to alert the RSPB to the decline in song thrush numbers, which are still down 78% compared to the first Big Garden Birdwatch in 1979.  This species was a firm fixture in the top 10 in 1979. By 2009, its numbers were less than half those recorded in 1979, it came in at 20th in the rankings this year, seen in just 9% of gardens.

 

The house sparrow remained at the top of the Big Garden Birdwatch rankings as the most commonly seen garden bird with more than 2.6 million recorded sightings throughout the weekend. Starling slid down the ranking from 2nd place for the first time since 2010, with numbers down 83% since 1979. Further declines were recorded for greenfinch and chaffinch, with the lowest average for both types of bird ever recorded for Big Garden Birdwatch.

 

Beccy added: “One way you can help revive our world is to bring nature to you. Your garden, balcony, and even windowsill are potential havens for wildlife, and in April we’re launching a digital platform, Nature on Your Doorstep, to help show you how.” 

 

Throughout the first half of the spring term the nation’s school children took part in the RSPB’s Big Schools Birdwatch. The UK-wide survey of birds in school grounds saw over 21,000 school children and their teachers spend an hour in nature counting the birds. Woodpigeon was the most numerous species seen with an average of 9 per school; and was seen in 85% of all schools that took part. Blackbird was a close second with an average of 8 per school.

 

Visit www.rspb.org.uk/yourdoorstep for more information.

 

For a full round-up of all the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch results and to see which birds were visiting gardens where you live, visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch

 

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Del.icio.us Digg | Comment (0)
Comment
Name:*

Email Address:*

Comment:*