With the dropping temperatures and variable weather conditions throughout January, you would be forgiven for overlooking the fact that Spring is around the corner. At the spring equinox, days and nights are approximately twelve hours long - increases to daylight and decreases to night length as the season progresses.

The birds of Britain are an incredibly important part of the ecosystem, and also amongst those that can suffer the harshest conditions during periods of adverse weather. There are, however, many incredibly helpful things that we all can do, with fairly minimal effort. Obviously, just like ourselves, housing and sustenance are the two main areas of concern. There are a huge variety of options for nesting boxes and feeders around. It is always worth checking the purpose of each, as slight variations (even the size of the holes) can attract different species.

More information, and some further opportunities for those looking to go the ‘extra mile’ can be found through many sources, both online and in your community. One good source could be the RSPB website, which can be found here https://www.rspb.org.uk. There is a huge range of potential activities and surveys to get involved in.

You never know, it could even put a spring in your step..!