Our Big Garden Birdwatch walk run by local ornithologist Michael Turner was a resounding success, and you’ll be surprised how many kinds of birds were spotted…
We love all things birds here at Land of Oak & Iron, so we’re excited to be involved in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch! This event is important to maintaining our native population of birds, as many species have declined since records began. We have lost 83% of Song Thrushes, while Redwings had a huge decrease in sightings in 2025 – down by 71%. Our parent charity Groundwork commits to protecting our green spaces and fortunately the Derwent Valley is still flush with these beautiful animals..
Bird Sightings at the Land of Oak & Iron
We’re delighted to tell you that 29 distinct species of bird were spotted on our Big Garden Birdwatch Walk! Highlights included sightings of siskin, redpoll, buzzards, treecreepers and dippers. No bird walk in the Derwent would be complete without spotting our iconic red kite, too. We submitted the results to the RSPB and they will count towards the results for County Durham.
The Big Garden Birdwatch may be over, but there are plenty more ways to support our population of native birds. Join a bird walk with us or meet with the RSPB to learn about more opportunities below.
Get Involved!
There are several bird-related events coming up at Land of Oak & Iron. We’ll provide some here, but keeping an eye our events page is a good way to see anything new as they’re made public.
Our next bird walk, run by Michael Turner, is coming up on the 15th of February and is part of National Nestbox Week. Michael will also advise on how you can set up your own nestbox at home.
A Spring Guided Bird Walk is also coming up, perfect if you don’t want to brave the winter weather.
Finally, the RSPB regularly set up shop at the Heritage Centre. They are a great resource if you want to learn more about bird conservation and get involved. They always love a chat, and you can grab food and drink from the Heritage Centre and go for a walk after!
You can also find out more about the RSPB and the Big Garden Birdwatch using the link below.
Thank you for your continued support to keep the Derwent Valley beautiful and filled with an abundance of life. We hope to see you walking with us soon!
