Tuesday 8 January 2013

Big Garden Birdwatch

The RSPB’s annual Big Garden Birdwatch is back on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 January 2013, giving people across the UK the chance to be part of the World’s biggest wildlife survey.

Almost 600,000 people across the UK took part in Big Garden Birdwatch in 2012 and between them counted more than 9 million birds.

To take part, people are asked to spend just one hour at any time over Big Garden Birdwatch weekend noting the highest number of each bird species seen in their gardens or local park at any one time. They then have three weeks to submit their results to the RSPB, either online at www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch or in the post.

Now in its 34th year, the survey provides the RSPB with an important snapshot of garden bird populations in winter and has helped to highlight some dramatic declines in UK garden birds.

Monday 7 January 2013

Get fit by joining the fight against litter!

Need a New Year’s Resolution? Get fit by joining the fight against litter! Litter Champions is a community project in Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey that aims to support role models in their efforts to rid the borough of litter. The project aims to offer support by providing members of the public with equipment! Litter Champions are already hard at work throughout the Borough; some collecting litter from beaches, some from local walking routes and with others focusing their attention on improving their local neighbourhoods. As a Litter Champion, each volunteer will be provided with a FREE litter picker and a volunteer information pack. It doesn’t matter where individuals decide to volunteer or how often they volunteer, as Litter Champions they are role models in their community. Sharon from Newtownabbey who takes part in the project regularly said "Going places that you can walk and pick up litter are enjoyable". The Litter Champions project is being coordinated by Amanda Wilson, a young person from Carrickfergus who was recently awarded a grant worth £2,500 from O2 Think Bigger. Amanda said, "We are asking people to come forward to do their bit for their communities, and enjoy time outdoors keeping fit and healthy at the same time". The project is also being supported by Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey Borough Councils. For more information about the project or to get involved, please visit the weblink: http://www.carrickfergus.org/environment/litter-champions/