The 4th Milton Regis Cub Pack, Sittingbourne
Station Adopters for Sittingbourne Station
In the depths of winter, the 4th Milton Cub Pack were hard at work preparing for spring.
As part of the Platforms for Change initiative, the Cubs were learning how to saw and nail, earning their DIY badge by making from scratch 4 bird boxes.
They then added a touch of colour painting them daffodil yellow.
With the help of the Southeastern staff, notably station manager Ben Donnelly and the SE maintenance team headed by Steve Watson, the 4 bird boxes were installed on the trees in Teynham Station Car Park.
On Saturday 8th march, a group of 14 cubs and 5 scout leaders took the train from Sittingbourne to Teynham station to see the bird boxes up and installed, and to bring some birds some bird feed, putting up 4 bird feeders on the branches nearby.
This is a perfect location. During the time we were there we heard and saw a vast collection of birds. The Cubs identified the wood pigeon, with many of them were highly skilled at imitating their call. Others spotted Chaffinches, Great tits and some Ring Collared doves in the branches above the bird boxes. We did a little bird ID before finding suitable branches to secure the bird feeders.
Reflecting on their project, they said ‘making the bird boxes was fun, but sawing the wood was hard’, they also had to get round some nailing challenges and learnt using screws was more effective. The birds were quick to catch on to the new feeders with the robins and chaffinches having an inquisitive peck only 10mins after we put them up on the branches.
Later on, to their delight the Cubs observed 2 Blue Tits starting to use one of the birdboxes. It is wonderful to see how quickly they have started to move into the new real estate. We look forward to watching this area continue to develop and thrive in bird life and hope there will be many more new broods of chicks to hatch from these new homes with the coming spring.
As one of the Cubs said on reflection “We hope you enjoy the nature and bird populations grow” which sums up this project perfectly.
Well done to the Cubs and their excellent DIY skills.
