Search

As British Bird Count Records Low Numbers, Conservationists Urge Gardeners to Ditch Pesticides, Let Lawns Grow

We are an online community created around a smart and easy to access information hub which is focused on providing proven global and local insights about sustainability

15 Apr, 2025

This post was originally published on Eco Watch

During the last weekend of January, participants in Britain’s Big Garden Birdwatch are asked to keep track of the number of each avian species they see at their location over a one-hour period. The counting and recording is usually done in gardens, but parks and other green spaces work too.

Participants in this year’s Birdwatch by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) recorded fewer sightings of starlings than ever before, raising fears about their decline.

“Starlings are one of our most charismatic garden birds, but this year’s Big Garden Birdwatch results are a reason for concern. With one in six species at risk of extinction [in] Great Britain, we’ve done more damage to our natural world than we realise. However, we can all do our bit to support these threatened birds by taking small actions that can not only benefit starlings, but a wealth of other garden wildlife,” said Beccy Speight, RSPB’s chief executive, as The Guardian reported.

A murmuration of starlings over Blackpool North Pier, England on Nov. 14, 2024. Peter Byrne / PA Images via Getty Images

The bird conservation charity urged gardeners to avoid pesticides, which reduce insect numbers and can poison birds, in addition to keeping lawn habitats wild by not mowing too often.

The house sparrow topped the list of most seen birds in the UK, with 600,000 people who participated in the annual survey having spotted them. For the first time since Birdwatch began in 1979, the starling came in fourth place, with the blue tit and wood pigeon taking second and third, respectively.

“House Sparrows are one of the UK’s most widespread birds. While they are often the most commonly spotted garden birds in Big Garden Birdwatch, unfortunately their breeding numbers have drastically declined since records began over the last 50 years,” a press release from RSPB said.

House sparrows were listed on the UK’s Red List of birds of high conservation concern in 2002, where they remain.

Bird numbers were down across the board in the UK. On average, 3.5 sparrows were spotted in gardens during this year’s survey, down from four in 2024. Blue tit numbers fell from 3.04 to 2.77, while starlings decreased from 2.44 to 2.3.

Since the survey began, sparrow numbers have decreased by 54 percent, while starlings have plummeted 84 percent and greenfinches nearly 68 percent.

According to government statistics, wild bird populations in the UK have been declining due to habitat loss, climate change, pesticide use and bird flu, reported The Guardian. From 2018 to 2023, populations dropped by seven percent in England and two percent across the UK.

To help diminishing bird numbers, RSPB recommended installing garden nesting boxes with a 1.7-inch entrance hole. They also suggested keeping lawns natural with clover, dandelion and other wildflowers that attract pollinators and encourage birds to forage for invertebrates.

“One way to help garden birds is by encouraging insects. Why not let a patch of your garden grow wild this spring and summer? You’ll get a rest, and you’ll reap the rewards come Big Garden Birdwatch 2026,” RSPB said in the press release. “The problems faced by birds are many and varied, which means we need to take action in all sorts of areas. From gardening for wildlife to the way we farm and manage our rivers, it all impacts on nature. That’s why we work tirelessly to save, protect and fight for nature. And when we come together for nature, it works.”

The post As British Bird Count Records Low Numbers, Conservationists Urge Gardeners to Ditch Pesticides, Let Lawns Grow appeared first on EcoWatch.

Pass over the stars to rate this post. Your opinion is always welcome.
[Total: 0 Average: 0]

You may also like…

‘The Science Is What Sets Us Apart’: How the Rodale Institute Has Spent 77 Years Innovating Regenerative Organic Agriculture

‘The Science Is What Sets Us Apart’: How the Rodale Institute Has Spent 77 Years Innovating Regenerative Organic Agriculture

Founded in 1947 by J.I. Rodale, Rodale Institute is a nonprofit dedicated to helping the regenerative organic agriculture movement grow through research, education and farmer training. In his study of regenerative organic farming, Rodale — who came up with the term “organic” — studied Indigenous agricultural practices, including those of communities like the long-lived Hunza […]
The post ‘The Science Is What Sets Us Apart’: How the Rodale Institute Has Spent 77 Years Innovating Regenerative Organic Agriculture appeared first on EcoWatch.

Urban 'placemaking' focus for $85m recreation centre

Urban 'placemaking' focus for $85m recreation centre

Sydney developer Billbergia Group has announced the Rhodes Recreation Centre — an $85 million, 9200 m2 multi-purpose community hub in Sydney’s Inner West.

Located at 6 Gauthorpe St and designed by architectural firm SJB, the recreation centre is in a three-level podium building beneath two high-rise residential towers — the 48-level Peake and 43-level Oasis. Together, they form stage two of the developer’s Rhodes Central Masterplan — a $3 billion, three-stage town centre project.

The Rhodes Recreation Centre was delivered under a $97 million Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) between the developer and City of Canada Bay Council. It will be handed over to council next month and is set to open later this year. Once complete, the masterplan will have delivered 25,000 m2 of dedicated public amenity, including retail, community facilities and open space.

With the NSW Government’s housing reforms set to address the housing shortage, the recreation centre will reflect the importance of ‘placemaking’ — a collaborative approach to designing and managing public spaces that enhances community wellbeing and fosters connections between people and their environment — in planning new urban communities.

It also presents a pathway for public and private sectors to collaborate and create social infrastructure while increasing housing supply in fast-growing suburbs.

The recreation centre is set to add vibrancy and pedestrian activity to the local streetscape, providing a diverse range of facilities that enhance the livability of the evolving suburb. These community amenities include two full-sized indoor sports courts, a gymnastics centre, a 70-place childcare centre, a community lounge, allied health services, and bookable spaces for local groups and events. It also provides a gym with cardio equipment, weights, group fitness rooms, a creche and an outdoor terrace, alongside a range of sustainability features.

Facilities at the Rhodes Recreation Centre. Images supplied.

“Rhodes Recreation Centre is the community heart of our high-density TOD development, bringing to life Billbergia’s vision for a future-focused, livable urban environment that prioritises amenity, not just density,” said Saul Moran, Development Director – Planning and Design at Billbergia.

The amenities within the two residential towers include a swimming pool, spa, sauna, children’s play area, library and theatre rooms. Pedestrian connections and through-site links provide access to Rhodes railway station and the Homebush Bay waterfront.

“The Rhodes Recreation Centre stands as a benchmark in successful public–private collaboration. Through a VPA with Canada Bay Council, we’ve created a pathway to unlock additional housing supply while delivering significant, lasting community infrastructure. It’s a clear demonstration of how thoughtful public and private partnerships can shape vibrant, livable neighbourhoods,” Moran said.

Located adjacent to Rhodes railway station, stage one of Billbergia’s Rhodes Central Masterplan was completed in 2021 and included the 13,000 m2 Rhodes Central Shopping Centre, with convenience retail, a Woolworths supermarket, medical facilities and the Bamboo Lane dining precinct.

Other previous projects include the 1.2 ha Phoenix Park in Rhodes, the $63 million Bennelong Bridge, the popular Baylink Shuttle service, the 3500 m2 Wentworth Point Community Centre and Library, and the Wentworth Point Pop-Up Town Square.

Billbergia’s ongoing focus on placemaking and social infrastructure also includes the $8.4 million delivery of a library at its mixed-tenure development, Arncliffe Central, in Sydney’s south. There is the potential for 75% of Arncliffe Central’s dwellings to be dedicated to social, affordable and essential worker rental housing, along with 3400 m2 allocated to childcare, convenience retail and cafes, and a 4000 m2 park with play space for both residents and the broader community.

Top image caption: The Rhodes Recreation Centre location with two planned residential towers, Peake and Oasis. Image supplied.

0 Comments