To celebrate British garden birds, five star housebuilders Barratt and David Wilson Homes – part of WhatHouse? Housebuilder of the Year 2019, Barratt Developments – have launched a digital bird quiz to encourage people to learn more about where their feathered friends live.
Like property seekers, birds need homes, and this quiz aims to highlight how residents in the county can help to provide a space for wildlife in their gardens.
The launch of the quiz coincides with National Nestbox Week, which runs from 14 to the 21 February and encourages people to create homes for birds, whether these are built from scratch or bought from a shop. There are many ways that residents can help the birds in their garden, such as providing a regular supply of clean water by using a bird bath, providing nestboxes and putting the right bird seed out including flaked maize and sunflower hearts.
It comes as part of the housebuilders’ commitment to making wildlife friendly developments and celebrates its national partnership with the RSPB.
Each entrant of the quiz will be able to learn more about their feathered friends as they’re asked to match common birds to their perfect homes. They will also be given the chance to enter a prize draw, meaning they could win RSPB vouchers of up to £100.
Helen Nyul, group biodiversity manager at Barratt Developments, said: “As a leading housebuilder, we know that home is where the heart is and that’s true for all types of residents, human or otherwise!
“We recognise that different people live in homes of all styles, shapes and sizes, and it’s the same for our feathered friends, so we want to celebrate this with our nature quiz and help to educate people about what birds they can attract into their garden.
“This kind of activity is just one of many that we undertake to do more for nature, not least our long-term partnership with the RSPB, so it’s great that we can get all generations involved in learning about their surroundings.”
You can take part in the quiz.
With schems such as Help to Buy and Part Exchange available on selected plots, there are a number of current Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes developments that are particularly apt to the theme of Britain’s birds.
Kingfisher Meadows
Kingfisher Meadows, Witney, Oxfordshire – Ten minutes from the town centre, there’s currently a range of two-, three- and four-bedroom houses here with prices ranging from £300,000 to £577,500. Witney is surrounded by lovely countryside and around half-an-hour from Oxford. The M40 is 17 miles away.
Birds Marsh View, Langley Burrell, Wiltshire – Priced between £169,995 and £290,995, this is a development of one- and two-bedroom apartments and three- and four-bedroom homes surround by 11 acres of open space including new play areas and allotments. It’s a short trip to Chippenham town centre and station (just over an hour to London), as well as the M4. Currently available homes range from £169,995 to £290,995.
Eagles’ Rest, Magna Park, Buckinghamshire – This Eagles’ Rest is a new but established community within five minutes of Junction 13 of the M1. Milton Keynes Central station is close by with frequent fast services north and to London. Ofsted 'Good' rated primary school is located within the development, as is plenty of green spaces. David Wilson Homes has a number of three- and four-bedroom detached and semi-detached houses from £363,995 to £530,495, while Barratt Homes has apartments and two- and three-storey house types priced from £227,995 to £587,995.
Hawk Rise, Ledbury, Herefordshire – Ledbury has tranquil countryside to the west, the bustling city centre of Hereford to the east, and easy access to the M50 motorway close by. Hawk Rise and supermarkets, cafés and pubs, and the town’s station within walking distance. There are a range of two- to four-bedroom homes for sale now, from £215,995 to £358,995.
Osprey Heights, Fisherford, Aberdeenshire – Now in Phase 6, the four- and five- bedroom houses here are from £289,995 to £424,995, some of them brand new releases and some that are ready to move into straightaway. While surrounded by countryside and views of Bennachie hill, it’s just a short walk to the town centre and local school. It’s 16 miles to Aberdeen city centre and a 20-minute drive to Dyce.
Harrier Chase, Brantingham, East Riding of Yorkshire – On the northern banks of the Humber Estuary, 11 miles from Hull, Harrier Chase is on the doorstep of countryside walks and within the catchment area of the highly sought-after, Ofsted rated ‘Outstanding’ South Hunsley High School. The A63, M62 and local rail station are close by for fast travel around the region. From two-bedroom semi-detached to four-bedroom detached, the current homes for sale here are priced between £175,000 and £305,000. []
Kingfisher Meadow, Horsford, Norfolk – This collection of thee- and four-bedroom homes has been very successful, so the housebuilder has just released some more houses for sale. Horsford is a village six miles north of Norfolk. Nearby are such things as a primary school rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted, medical centre, vet practice, dentists, pharmacy and post office. Prices range from £269,995 to £406,995.