Chardstock teen encouraging residents to look after their garden birds

You can't beat the sound of bird song and the dawn chorus at this time of year, but as many people are aware, numbers of garden birds are in steep decline.

Chardstock Eco Group was delighted to be asked by a young, local resident if he could lead a project to raise awareness about the plight of our garden birds.

Archie Garth is 14 years old and like many teenagers is currently working towards his Duke of Edinburgh Award. 

Archie and his mother Sara asked if he could do part of the three-month volunteering element of the Bronze Award with Chardstock Eco Group. 

Vicky Whitworth, chair of Chardstock Eco Group, said: "It was a jolly nice surprise when Archie volunteered. We're always keen to have young people involved with our environmental work, and we know it can sometimes be difficult for Duke of Edinburgh candidates to find a volunteering placement. 

"We wanted Archie to have a positive and slightly challenging experience, so we asked him to come up with an idea that he wanted to pursue. His idea was pure genius. It's a different take on the subject."

Archie's project – called Our Birds Join Us – will see him putting up bird feeders around the village, which he will keep topped up for the next three months. 

Archie is placing a lot of emphasis on feeder cleanliness, and said: "People don't realise how important it is to keep the feeders clean; I know I didn't. But you don't want to be feeding birds rotting peanuts. 

"I love garden birds and I want to do what I can to keep them healthy."

Sara explained that Archie is also volunteering in Chardstock Community Shop, and that the shop has been very supportive allowing Archie to put one of the feeders outside the shop where a lot of people gather as they go about their shopping and stop to chat to neighbours. 

Archie has also installed a bird box post box at the shop where people can pop a note to say what birds they have seen in their garden. He also created an information leaflet which stresses the importance of hygiene and gives tips on how to clean bird boxes and feeders.

Archie has received excellent advice and support from a village resident with expertise in this area. He is bursting with enthusiasm and said: "I'd love people to stop and chat to me if they see me out topping up the feeders. The idea is to get people talking about garden birds, and realising they can do a lot to help. 

"As I grow up I want to see lots of birds in my garden. Greenfinches are in serious decline. It's time we all did something to make things better for birds."

Vicky added: "Chardstock Eco Group shares Archie's love of birds, and we thank those local residents who have agreed to host one of Archie's feeders on their land, and those that have sponsored the feeders. 

"We are also grateful to South West Water for giving us a small grant towards the bird food.

"Archie tells me that his favourite garden bird is the bullfinch, but he also loves birds of prey. At this time of year there is just the possibility of him seeing an osprey returning to the UK and passing over East Devon on its way north."

Chardstock Eco Group is working with South West Water to create a three-month volunteering activity with an environmental and water-related theme, which can be slotted into the Duke of Edinburgh Award enabling environmental groups to support young people to complete their award in a structured and positive way.