Is your garden a haven for feathered friends? Do birds flock to your home for some tasty treats? If the answer is yes, then why not enter a new competition?
The South East Essex RSPB Local Group, in partnership with Southend-on-Sea Borough Council is launching an initiative to try to discover Southend's 'Most Bird-friendly Garden'.
The competition is being launched on Friday 10th September and has two categories – ‘Most Bird-friendly Garden’ and ‘Best Improved Garden for Birds’. It is open to all Southend residents and judging will take place in May 2005.
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Councillor Mrs Ann Holland, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s Executive Councillor for Environment and Public Protection, says: “We are really pleased to be working with the South East Essex RSPB Local Group to launch this competition. There are countless numbers of residents who are helping wildlife by supporting local bird numbers. This award will recognise their efforts."
Graham Mee, Group Leader of the South East Essex RSPB Local Group, says: "Feeding birds is a popular activity – more than half the adults in the UK feed birds in their garden and people enjoy seeing wild birds at close quarters. The competition will highlight the many local people who are keen wildlife gardeners and encourage others to become involved."
Southend's Most Bird-friendly Garden Competition has two categories - "Most Bird-Friendly Garden" and "Best Improved Garden for Birds". Residents can enter one or both categories, although the first category would be more suitable for residents that have been supporting and encouraging birds in their garden for a number of years. The second category would be more suitable for someone who has more recently started supporting and encouraging birds in their garden.
Feeding garden birds can play a valuable role in helping birds to overcome periods of natural food shortage, to survive periods of severe winter weather and to be in good breeding condition in the spring. Although winter feeding benefits birds the most, feeding all year round gives birds a better chance to survive periods of food shortage whenever they occur. Boosting natural food supplies by gardening for wildlife will attract more birds and other creatures like butterflies. The more varied the design of a garden, which could include features like shrubs, hedges, climbers and trees, the more wildlife that could be attracted and the more habitats there will be to attract different birds.
Garden Birds are the subject of an individual action plan within Southend's Local Biodiversity Action Plan. A number of once common species have suffered population declines and even the humble house sparrow has become less common. This competition will help to raise awareness of garden birds and encourage residents to take action to support local populations of birds.
For information about the competition and an application form contact Paul Terry, the Council’s Environmental Officer on 01702 215602 or e-mail
Anyone requesting an application form will also be provided with a free pack of RSPB information leaflets.
Southend's 'Most Bird-Friendly Garden' Competition
Information Sheet
Why have a Bird-Friendly Garden Competition?
Gardens can be fantastic habitats for a variety of wildlife including birds. Within very urbanised areas the small patchworks of greenery that make up gardens are even more important and may even sustain locally important numbers of species. The competition is trying to raise awareness of the importance of gardens to bird species. It also meets objectives within the Species Action Plan (SAP) for Garden Birds, which is part of Southend's Local Biodiversity Action Plan.
The competition is a joint initiative between the South East Essex RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) Local Group and Southend Borough Council. Unfortunately this means that it is not open to registered members of the South East Essex RSPB Local Group.
What help and ideas are available?
To provide ideas and inspiration to people interested in taking part in this competition we have arranged for a number of free packs of RSPB produced information. A pack will be sent to the first 200 Southend-on-Sea residents who are enquiring about entering this competition.
Who can enter?
The competition is free and open to any resident with a garden within the borough of Southend-on-Sea except those residents belonging to the South East Essex RSPB Local Group. However residents belonging to the national Royal Society for the Protection of Birds group can enter the competition.
What are the competition categories?
There are two categories within this competition and you may enter either category or both categories if you wish. The categories are:
- Most Bird-Friendly Garden
- Best Improved Garden for Birds'
What are the criteria for entering the competition?
'Most Bird-Friendly Garden'
This category will be looking at the design and layout of your existing garden and the positive actions you may have taken for birds over a number of years. It would probably suit someone who has made long-term changes to their garden and taken actions for birds over a period of years. The number and range of bird species that visit, feed or breed are also a consideration in this category.
To enter the category you should be able to demonstrate one or more of the following:
- That your garden has attracted birds and continues to attract birds,
- That this is as a result of changes you have made to the garden,
- That the changes are planned and result from the long-term objective of attracting more birds,
- That birds visiting are attracted to your garden by action you have taken, not just because the garden is in a location were they could be found naturally - for example by a nature reserve or woodland,
- That you can provide information on the range of species and numbers visiting (using the Bird Record Sheet).
'Best improved Garden for Birds'
This category is probably suited to someone who has taken a more recent interest in birds. They may have started to make changes and positive actions for birds or have been undertaking changes and actions for a limited period of time (less than 18 months). Because these changes may be recent there is less emphasis on being able to demonstrate the number and range of birds visiting, feeding or breeding in this category.
To enter the category you should be able to demonstrate one or more of the following:
- That you have been undertaking planned works towards physical improvements to your garden that will both benefit and attract birds,
- That you can explain what changes you have made and explain how they will benefit and attract birds to your garden.
How will the competition be judged?
There will be judges from both the South East Essex RSPB Local Group and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council. The competition will be launched in September 2004 and all the competition entries will then considered in early May 2005. Entries will then be short-listed and visits to the short-listed gardens will take place during Mid-May 2005.
What are the prizes?
There will be a variety of prizes - in addition to the very enviable titles of 'Most Bird-Friendly Garden' and 'Best Improved Garden for Birds'! Prizes will include binoculars, bird feeders, bird books, nestboxes, gift vouchers for the RSPB gift catalogue and your own personal guided tour of either Old Hall Marshes RSPB Reserve or Rainham Marshes RSPB Reserve. RSPB staff will lead both tours. Free coach trips with the South East Essex RSPB Local Group are also available as alternatives for winners of the competition.
All entrants to the competition will receive a certificate recognising their involvement in the competition.
How can you enter the competition?
Please apply for an Application Form (it can be used for both categories). If you are entering the 'Most Bird-Friendly Garden' category we would also ask you to fill in a Bird Record Sheet. The Bird Record Sheet will give us an idea of how many birds visit your garden during an average month. You are welcome to fill in as many Bird Record Sheets as you like before returning the Application Form.
Just remember that for you to enter the competition we must have all Application Forms and Bird Record Sheets (if entering the 'Most Bird-Friendly Garden' category) returned before 3rd May 2005.
Please apply for your application form to:
Paul Terry,
Leisure, Culture and Amenity Services Department,
Floor 4, Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue,
Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS2 6ER
Tel: 01702 215602
e-mail
An application form in Microsoft Word format can also be downloaded here: Bird Friendly Garden Application Form
* Please note: the prize winners of both categories must be willing to be involved in publicity as names and photographs of gardens may be provided to the local press.
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