Following on from the previous success of The Elephant Parade, intu shopping centres and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) – Europe’s largest nature conservation charity – are bringing art and nature to life throughout the UK with a 16-month nationwide celebrity-designed Big Birdhouse Tour, which commenced on 14th July.
In 2013, the State of Nature* report highlighted that 60% of UK wildlife studied has declined over recent decades. Working with intu, the RSPB aims to reach over 30 million people to raise awareness of the importance of giving nature a home. The fun, interactive and informative tour highlights the vulnerability of some of Britain’s treasured birds and other nature, encouraging individuals, families and communities to take action and protect the future of Britain’s wildlife.
The Big Bird House Tour sees 15 giant bird houses, over five foot each, uniquely designed by well-known personalities, tour around 15 intu shopping centres across the UK. Following the tour, the bird houses will be auctioned off, with all proceeds being donated to the RSPB.
Celebrities involved are: Alex Jones; Becky Adlington; George Clarke; Graham Swift; Iwan Thomas; Jo Whiley; Konnie Huq; Miranda Krestovnikoff (above); Naomi Wilkinson; Richard Whitehead; Steve Backshall; Vic Reeves; Will Greenwood and Beano.
Trevor Pereira, Commercial and Digital Director of intu, said: “In 2013 we launched the first ever national tour of Elephant Parade, raising awareness of the plight of the Asian elephant to millions of our customers. This tour is all about creating a buzz around the nature that surrounds us in our own back gardens and countryside, inspiring people to look after the UK’s birds and wildlife so our towns, coasts and countryside are thriving with nature.”
As with Elephant Parade, an important element of the tour is its educational schools engagement programme to introduce schoolchildren to the RSPB and its conservation work. This includes creative activities that support the national curriculum to provide an informative and fun session to get children and schools involved in their own ‘Giving Nature a Home’ projects.
Bryan Bland, Head of Corporate Partnerships at the RSPB, said: “Our partnership is a superb example of reaching out to people where they are and showcasing the relevance and importance of ‘Giving Nature a Home’. intu centres offer fantastic spaces to enable us to do something really fun and creative, and we hope to connect with people up and down the country to inspire and encourage them to connect with nature.”
The Big Birdhouse Tour officially started at intu Lakeside in Thurrock, Essex on Tuesday 14th July, running there until Sunday 9th August. It will then go on to:
intu Bromley: 11th August – 6th September
intu Uxbridge: 8th September – 4th October
intu Watford: 6 October – 1st November
intu Milton Keynes: 3rd January – 30th January 2016
intu Merry Hill: 1st February – 27th February 2016
intu Derby: 29th February – 26th March 2016
intu Victoria Centre/ intu Broadmarsh: 28th March – 30th April 2016
intu Chapelfield: 2nd May – 28th May 2016
intu Potteries: 30th May – 25th June 2016
intu Trafford Centre: 28th June – 23rd July 2016
intu Eldon Square: 26th July – 21st August 2016
intu Braehead: 23rd August – 18 September 2016
intu Metrocentre: 20th September – 16th October 2016
Nature is struggling, but if we all pull together and do small actions for wildlife in our gardens and outdoor spaces, we can make a real difference. After all, if there’s no home for nature, there will be no nature. Find out how you can help give nature a home at www.rspb.org.uk/homes
*The State of Nature Report: For the first time ever, the UK’s wildlife organisations have joined forces to undertake a health check of nature in the UK and its Overseas Territories. Working side-by-side, 25 wildlife organisations have compiled a stock-take of all our native wildlife. The report reveals that 60 per cent of the species studied have declined over recent decades. More than one in ten of all species assessed are under threat of disappearing from our shores altogether. For more on this, see rspb.org.uk/stateofnature
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