Irish Penal Reform Trust

(UK) Big Garden Birdwatch: More than 60 prisoners to take part this year

23rd January 2011

The Big Garden Birdwatch, in operation since the 1970s, now involves more than 500,000 people around the UK, including 61 inmates who have signed up from closed institutions around England and Wales. In Kirklevington prison in Cleveland around a dozen prisoners will take part.

Russ Bates, Head of land-based activities at Kirklevington, said working with nature through feeding the birds, keeping bees and even taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch can help with issues like anger management and keeping down prison violence.

“Prisoners have a lot of problems and a lot on their minds. For them to spend some time feeding the birds or keeping bees gives them a sense of purpose and has a calming effect,” he said.

Encouraging birds is also part of a ‘greening programme’ across the government estate, with targets for boosting wildlife on public land such as prison grounds.

At the very least Mr Bates said it gives prisoners a way to pass leisure time and a knowledge of bird names to pass onto their children - but it can inspire the prisoners to find employment, with some prisoners taking qualifications in conservation management.

Read more:

  • Read the Telegraph's full article here

Our work is supported by

Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.

Subscribe

Legal

Contact us

This website uses cookies to provide a good browsing experience

Some are necessary to help our website work properly and can't be switched off, and some are optional. Click on "Choose cookies" below for more information on the cookies being used on this website. Please note that based on your settings, not all functions of the website may be available. You can manage your preferences by visiting “Cookie preferences" at the bottom of any page.

This website uses cookies to provide a good browsing experience

Some are necessary to help our website work properly and can't be switched off, and some are optional. Please choose the cookies to allow below. Please note that based on your settings, not all functions of the website may be available. You can manage your preferences by visiting “Cookie preferences" at the bottom of any page.

Your cookie preferences have been saved.