Weathering the storms and Big Garden Birdwatching.

2024 blew out with weather warnings and amber alerts, howling winds, rain and snow November's named storm Bert was followed by Storm Darragh at the beginning of December and the eerie calm yesterday and today, an ominous lead into Storm Éowyn in some parts of the UK Friday and Saturday.

On the bright side, no matter what the weather the birds still came to the feeders. I will once again be joining in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2025 so I hope they all stick around for that.

Want to attract a variety of birds?

By far the favourite food for most of them are Sunflower Hearts but its best to have a variety of birdfood and always keep birdbaths filled up as they need water and love splashing about preening and fluffing their feathers at this time of year

My tips to encourage all types of birds to your garden.

Sunflower hearts - Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Sparrows, Blue Tits, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Greenfinch, Starlings will take over the feeding stations at this time if year.

Peanuts - Blue Tits, Woodpecker, Sparrows, Chaffinch, Robin
 

Niger Seed - Goldfinch, Blue Tit

Sunflower Seeds - Bullfinch
 

Meal Worms - Loved by ground feeders including Robin, Blackbird, Dunnock and Wren
 

Fat balls, Suet cake - all the birds love this

 

Attention -  its time for the Big Garden Birdwatch. Photo copyright Pat Adams North Devon Focus

Attention -  its time for the Big Garden Birdwatch. Photo copyright Pat Adams North Devon Focus

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"Join the world's largest garden wildlife survey 24th-26th January 2025" - Find out more at  RSPB

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"Met Office "Rare red weather warning as Storm Éowyn poses danger to life". 

Red Weather Warnings have been issued with Storm Éowyn forecast to bring disruptive winds as well as heavy rain and snow for some on Friday."
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Tap here to find out if your area is affected

Keep up to date at Met Office.gov.uk

Edenmore Nursing Home Unites for Mental Health Awareness

According to Mind, 1 in 4 people will experience mental health challenges, and Edenmore Nursing Home is passionate about supporting initiatives that make a meaningful difference in the lives of those affected.

The North Devon care home invited the Ilfracombe community to join them in supporting mental health awareness. Residents, their families, and the Edenmore team came together to raise funds for Mind through a "Big Brunch." 

Big Brunch for Mental Health Awareness

Residents (known as family members), their families, the local community, and the team tucked into an array of food, from full English breakfast favourites – sausage, bacon, eggs, and all the trimmings – to croissants, pastries, and bagels, with plenty of coffee, tea, and juice. Thanks to the incredible generosity of the community, alongside a contribution from Edenmore Care Home, they are pleased to announce that together they raised over £150 to support Mind.

A Big Thank You

Gayle Cooper, Home Manager, at Edenmore Nursing Home, shared, "A big thank you to everyone who joined us, donated to support this cause. This event was a wonderful reminder of the power of coming together, and we’re so proud of what we achieved as a community. We can’t wait for more events in the future to keep making a difference!"

For more information please visit: https://www.edenmorenursinghome.com/

Burton at Bideford. Other Worlds: New Works from the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers

Explore the vibrancy of contemporary printmaking in this exhibition that brings together new work by members of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers. Introducing an eclectic range of personal, ecological, architectural, and even psychedelic realms, Other Worlds reveals the agility of expression and skilful techniques underpinning printmaking today. 

The Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers is one of the world's premier printmaking organisations, originally founded in 1888. From its home at Bankside Gallery, next to Tate Modern on the South Bank of the Thames, it supports and promotes the full diversity of printmaking practices, encouraging excellence, experimentation and innovation within its membership and through its education and engagement activities.

Other Worlds is the centrepiece of our season celebrating printmaking and printmakers, including artist talks, workshops and demonstrations that will bring the best of contemporary printmaking to the South West. 

  

A General History of Quadrupeds V by Leonie Bradley

 

Other Worlds: New Works from the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers
11th January – 1st March 2025 

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For more details see www.theburton.org