Denmans Garden collaborates in a variety of ways with local artists and makers byhosting events and workshops, showcasing work in the gift shop and garden, or providing inspiration and materials.
As part of an occasional series, we interview some of these artists and creatives on our blog to find out more about their work and inspiration.
Paul and Joe Scorey are passionate birders and like to bring people of all ages together to find out more about bird identification and taking in all that nature has to offer. They come to Denmans in the new year for a series of events in which they hope to inspire and bring joy in their Bird Walk sessions
Can you tell us a bit about your background? (I’ve added the stuff you’ve already give me here but anything else you want to add feel free)
Paul: I was aware of sparrows and blue tits in my auntie’s garden as a small person. The wow moment for me was going over to the local woods and walking through grass that was above my head (I was only 5) when a bird then shot up in front of me – big, black and white with some red on it! I’d never seen anything like it before. I looked in my Collins Gem guide once home, and there it was: a great spotted woodpecker. I was hooked. I’ve since been birding everywhere I’ve ever been, from my time working on cruise ships in the Caribbean to backpacking across Australia, along with the odd supermarket car park!! Waxwings, you know…
Joe: Hello, my name is Joe Scorey I am 15 years old. I have been a keen birdwatcher since I could walk, going on trips all over the country with my dad. From seeing ptarmigan in the Scottish Highlands in the summer of this year to first noticing the call of the sparrow on my walks into school at the age of 5, I have always loved birds, moths and anything to do with nature.
I have been exploring the natural world all of my life. Thanks to my dad, we have been on trips all over the country. I am keen to spread the love of birds to anyone who will listen. We hope to share our knowledge, love and even maybe some humour with anyone and everyone who chooses to come along with us on a Bird Walk.
Anyone who comes along to one of our Bird Walks can expect a nice walk around the gardens with an introduction to the Birda app, how to look for, listen to and identify the birds we see and hear in the garden. We will learn about the birds we see, and tips on how to identify what you are looking at as well. We will give some advice on where to see birds in the local area, feeding birds and photography as well. There will be plenty of humour and tales of our birding adventures.
Back in July we visited the British birdwatching fair at Rutland water, the home of British birdwatching. We met Mary Colewell on the stand for the charity Curlew action. She has worked for the BBC Natural History department, written books and is one of the top 50 environmentalists in the UK. We liked what she had to say, and she liked us – especially Joe’s enthusiasm for wildlife and the great outdoors. We were asked to become ambassadors for Curlew Action by Mary at the beginning of November. We are looking forward to working with her and this great charity and help in any way we can.
I discovered the Birda app not long after it was launched via an article in birdwatching magazine. I loved its easy-to-use functionality, as you can create lists, which collate information, from a day list, to a month list, a year list and a life list!! Easy. All of your sightings count, you actually help with citizen science, by logging what you see, it helps builds a picture for what we have and where it is and more importantly helps protect it. The state of the country’s birds is far from what it was in the 1970s, yes there are still birds everywhere, but not in the numbers there used to be. Do you remember when most gardens had at least 20 sparrows in them, now it’s a treat to have one in the garden….
There is a lot the app can do, you can upload an image if you have seen a bird and don’t know what it is, and other users will identify it for you. It has pictures and calls of birds to help you work out what that little brown job is. It brings people together and gets you outside, taking in the fresh air and re connecting with Nature. We love it.
I work for Shrekfeet Lawncare and we look after the lawns at Denmans. I was on a visit to the gardens talking with the head Gardener and the second in command when I heard a Firecrest singing in the garden, not an abundant bird by any means. That then sparked an idea, and here we are the Bird Walks of Denmans Garden is born….
What I love about Denmans is the vibe the gardens give off, full of colour and gorgeous plants, you can be transported to a time that once was, away from the everyday race of life, and you can wander through peace and tranquillity. Take a seat and soak up the atmosphere, it’s a beautiful place. The team are great here as well, all friendly with great smiles, and a gorgeous cup of tea and a bite to eat, what’s not to like!
The coming year is a big one for Joe with exams coming up, so a focus on getting the grades he needs to then go onto college and study for a career in environmental conservation. We want to bring birdwatching to as many people as we can and share our passion. So, more walks planned for Birda, and Curlew Action. More photography too – Joe has an image selected for the finals of the British Wildlife Photography Competition, so fingers crossed on that one. We are hoping to set up a website and blog soon so stay tuned!
Bird Walkks at Denmans Garden
Join Paul and Joe Scorey, in association with Birda (Bird Spotting App) and Curlew Action group, for a walk around Denmans Garden as they introduce the wonderful birds of Britain. Learn how to see them, identify them, and how to create an online list to log your sightings. Bird walks are a great family pursuit and Paul and Joe encourage young and old (and everyone in between) to get involved!
February 14th 10am/ May 2nd 5am
All approx. 1.5-hour duration
Tickets: Adults £12/ Under 16 £5
Adults accompanying children £10 each
Book online www.denmansgarden
For more information check out Paul’s Instagram: ps_naturephotos
And Joe’s: h_wildlife.14
Birda: https://birda.org/
Curlew Action: https://www.curlewaction.org/
For more information, please contact Louise Campbell
louise@denmans.org 07540892364
@denmans_garden
