30th October 2025 • The HERALD • Page 55 v INDEPENDENT, LOCAL AND PROUD v DOWN THE GARDEN PATH RYAN FENCING Quality Fencing & Gates 07769 706516 • 023 8084 1203 www.ryan-fencing.co.uk • Find us on Facebook A J GLEESON BUILDING & GROUNDWORK DRIVEWAYS EXTENSIONS BRICKWORK GROUNDWORK BLOCK PAVING Colours & Designs to suit your requirements Local Work Available to View CALL FOR A FREE QUOTATION New Forest & Southampton 023 8084 4180 Mobile: 07770 771475 Bramdene, Main Road, Dibden, Southampton Locally owned landscape and maintenance company who offer excellent workmanship, value, and customer service. Contact Ralph on 07775 726135 www.apex-landscaping.co.uk • rperry16@sky.com • Decking • Fencing and Gates • Complete Landscaping • Paving • Brick Work • Block Paving and Driveways • Hedge and Tree Work •Turfing • Shed and Summerhouse Bases • Shingle Beds and Artificial Lawns • Paving and Block Paving Cleaning and Repair RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch: Together, Let’s Make It Count! e world’s largest garden wildlife survey returns, with hundreds of thousands of people watching and counting the UK’s garden birds over the last weekend in January for the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch. Almost 600,000 people took part in 2025, counting more than 9 million birds of over 80 species – an amazing achievement. e survey provides a valuable snapshot of how our most common garden birds are faring and taking part is one positive way to take action for birds and nature. Spend an hour watching and counting the birds on bird species you see at any one time – not the total you see in the hour. Registration for Big Garden Birdwatch 2026 opens 10th December. To receive your FREE Big Garden Birdwatch guide, which includes a bird identi cation chart, top tips for your Birdwatch, RSPB shop o er, plus advice on how to help you attract wildlife to your garden, text BIRD to 82727, or you can choose a free digital guide (which helps the RSPB spend more on nature by reducing costs) by visiting: www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch e parallel event RSPB Big Schools’ Birdwatch takes place during the rst half of spring term, 6th January – 13th February. For more than 20 years, the Birdwatch has helped to connect children and their teachers with nature in their school grounds. Registration for Big Schools’ Birdwatch is now live. Further information can be found at: www.rspb.org.uk/schoolswatch the birds you see. It’s good for wildlife and evidence shows it’s good for our own wellbeing.” To take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch 2026, watch the birds on your balcony, in your garden or in your local green space for one hour at some point over the three days. Only count the birds that land, not those ying over. Report the highest number of each 23rd, 24th or 25th January, in your garden or local park, or from your balcony and send your results to the RSPB. e Birdwatch, which started in 1979, has become the UK’s biggest citizen science wildlife survey. Over that time, more than 200 million birds have been counted and over 12.6 million hours spent watching and counting garden birds. Beccy Speight, the RSPB’s Chief Executive, said: “By taking part in the Birdwatch, you and hundreds of thousands of other nature lovers across the UK, are helping us understand how garden birds are doing. Birds and wildlife are struggling right now. Every observation counts, even if you see nothing at all. Whether you live in a city or the countryside, anyone, anywhere, can take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch – even if you don’t have a garden! A park, balcony, allotment or window box will do. Simply spend an hour and count Blackbird (Credit: Nigel Blake rspb-images.com) Workshop Black eld Flower Club’s next meeting will take place on Tuesday 11th November for a workshop. Followed on Tuesday 9th December for Christmas with Graham King. Meetings take place at the Royal British Legion Club, Exbury Road, Black eld, SO45 1XD – visitors welcome, please contact Jan Gordon on: 023 8084 4835 for more details.
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