MORE than 200 bird feeders have been made in one week by schoolchildren as part of the RSPB Big Schools’ Birdwatch.

Every pupil at Bedales’ pre-prep school, Dunannie, embraced the challenge of getting closer to nature and taking part in the school wildlife survey.

Now in its 15th year, the RSPB’s Birdwatch venture helps to track the numbers of birds in school grounds, giving the charity an insight into species thriving or not doing so well and providing schoolchildren with a great learning experience.

Pupils at Dunannie already have an active relationship with nature and the school boasts an outdoor work department where pupils are encouraged to get involved with a range of activities from creating a compost heap to livestock management.

James Harding-Morris, the RSPB’s Birdwatch co-ordinator, said: “Research has shown that children are increasingly disconnected from nature which is linked to poorer physical and mental health, so this event is a great way to get young people excited about the world around them. It also provides us with valuable information on how some of our familiar birds are doing.”

Ryan Walsh, head of outdoor work at Bedales, said: “Pupils have really taken the RSPB’s mission to heart and it has raised the profile of birdwatching around the school. We are lucky in Hampshire to be surrounded by a wealth of nature and the children have been asking lots of questions and wanted me to send them the recipes and instructions for the birdfeeders so they could replicate them at home.”