Rotherham’s youngsters ‘flocking’ to birdwatching at record rates

Young people around Rotherham are taking up birdwatching at record rates, according to birding groups in the area.

Helen Ensor, a Rotherham resident and committee member of the RSPB Sheffield Local Group, said birdwatching has exploded in popularity amongst youngsters in recent years.

She said: “At the moment there seems to be more and more young people joining. They’re all boys, not girls unfortunately, but they’re very enthusiastic!”

The RSPB has reported a more than 1,000 per cent increase in the number of Gen Zers taking up the hobby since 2018, with almost 750,000 of them regularly going out birdwatching.

David Burke, a ranger at Rother Valley Country Park, said: “It's surprising how many young people are taking up the hobby. Rother Valley is still a little bit under the radar but it’s definitely on the uptick.”

Mr Burke described local birders as a “very close-knit” community, and explained that “the older people like to show and teach the younger people the art of birdwatching”.

Mrs Ensor cannot put her finger on exactly what has driven the rise in youngsters picking up their binoculars, but suggests greater visibility for the hobby has had an effect.

“There’s lots of things out there on the telly about birding,” she said, pointing to the success of shows like Sam & Ade Go Birding, and Sheffield’s own Sean Bean’s birding podcast Get Birding. 

She added: “I knew Sean Bean as a child!”

The Sheffield Bird Study Group (SBSG) has almost doubled its youth membership in the last year within a total of 383 bird enthusiasts from around the city.

Freya Dunbar-Simms, youth representative for the SBSG, explains that bird watching is a relaxing and accessible hobby, and “a great way to de-stress.”

She said: “Birds are really fascinating to watch. When you’re watching a bird that’s all you’re thinking about, and as you learn about birds you learn about nature in general.

Mrs Ensor herself has been a bird fanatic since a child, but has not always been able to engage with her passion for the creatures.

She said: “I’ve always been interested in nature, but when the family was growing up things changed. When we retired we got back into it.

“We go out in groups and it's good for your physical health and mental health. We’re a very social group,” she added.

Despite being on the committee for 25 years, Mrs Ensor is keen to stress that bird watching is open to everyone.

She said: “You don’t have to know a lot about birds to be going out - we’ve got people with all different kinds of knowledge - from absolute beginners to experts.”

The RSPB Sheffield Local Group meets at 7.15pm on the first Thursday of every month in the Central United Reformed Church on Chapel Walk.