CHILDREN at a Borders nursery gave garden birds a boost this week by creating special feeders.

It is all part of a New Year wildlife project at Busy Bees Nursery in Melrose with the support of the Borders branch of the Wildlife Trust.

The project is designed to ignite children’s curiousity for the natural world and in doing so protect its many wonders for generations of children yet to come.

On Monday the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Central Borders chairman Dr Malcolm Lindsay joined children making the feeder with nursery nurse Rachel Ormiston, aged 28.

Children mixed bird seed with melted lard and scooped the mixture, which is a delight to hungry birds, into disposable cups to solidify.

It was the first activity in a four section learning enhancement, one for each season, developed for the Wildlife Trusts exclusively for children who attend on of 236 UK Bussy Bees nurseries.

Dr Lindsay, a former Galashiels GP, said: “Helping children and families to discover nature and make the most of the wildlife close to home is a big part of our work.

“We want as many children as possible to experience nature and enabling this to happe at a young age is really important.

“The Busy Bees Goes Wild scheme is all about getting children closer to nature, the scrapbooks offer ways for the children to record and share their wildlife experiences.” Chrildren taking part in the project will make items like the bird feeders, draw pictures and document the wildlife they see.

During Monday’s session Dr Lindsay told the group about the Long Tailed Tit which was identified on one of the packs of seed and explained that if they were lucky enough to see this rare visitor it would come in a flock of four or five.

Nursery manager, Christine Laverty, said: “The children are very excited to be taking part in the Busy Bees Goes Wild Initiative.

“Pulling on their wellington boots, hats and scarfs and venturing into the great outdoors to complete a range of fun and educational activities, both at nursery and at home.

“We hope this partnership will enhance our children’s understanding and appreciation of nature and its many inhabitants, whilst providing them with an opportunity to have lots of fun in the process.” As part of Busy Bees Goes Wild, children will take part in a number of wildlife themed activities and document their progress in special scrapbooks designed by the Wildlife Trust. Scrapbooks will be judged at both nursery and national level with winners entered into national finals at the end of each season. All children will receive certificates on completion of each seasonal scrapbook and national winners will be rewarded with goody bags and a free family membership to their local Wildlife Trust.

An overall Busy Bees Goes Wild champion will be crowned at the end of the autumn season later in the year and will win a family break at a Center Parcs resort.

All children who complete all four seasonal scrapbooks will receive special hats and t-shirts for their commitment and effort.