Vandals smash record bid bird feeder in Wirral

Sep 2 2009 by Samantha Parker, Heswall News

A CHARITY event to show off a world record attempt for the world’s biggest bird feeder was nearly cancelled after vandals attacked it.

Defiant fundraisers refused to let thugs put a dampener on their day and desperately tried to repair the 13ft bird feeder before visitors arrived.

The organisers beat the thugs and on Monday the world’s biggest bird feeder could be seen in all its glory.

They smashed the current world record for the biggest bird feeder by creating a 13ft structure holding 401kg of seed.

They now face an agonising two-month wait for official confirmation from the Guinness Book of Records.

Their record attempt on Saturday at Carr Farm Garden Centre, in Meols, was almost scuppered after vandals wrecked the feeder.

Wirral Birdkeepers secretary Brian Gregory, who has kept birds in his garden aviary for 50 years, said: “We were very upset when we arrived to see what the vandals had done.

“How could someone do this to a charity? We are trying to raise money for the Hoylake Cottage Day Care Appeal.

“I guess that we are lucky that we did the world record attempt on Saturday so they didn’t ruin that.

“Whoever they were cut the ropes the feeder was hanging from, and it smashed on the ground. Seed went everywhere. We did our best to fix it and put the seed back in but some of it is just in bags on the floor.

“They also cut the ropes of the marquee and they even tried to set fire to it. Everyone was very upset but why should we let some hooligans stop us from raising money?

The group spent most of the day repairing the feeder and refilling it with all the seed.

Brian said: “We have had loads of ‘guess the weight’ competitions and children are amazed. It was a really successful weekend.

“We are confident we did everything correctly, but now have to wait two to three months to hear back officially.”

The group also exhibited more than 100 caged birds, and is already planning on expanding next year to include a full pet show and new record attempt.

The construction of the feeder was supervised by prospective parliamentary candidates David Kirwan and Leah Fraser, to comply with Guinness world record rules, while photographer Simon Clitheroe captured each stage of the building and filling.

The existing world record is held by a group in Leicester, for a bird feeder 10 ft six inches tall, containing 97 kilos of bird seed.

Wirral Birdkeepers formed earlier this year and have 70 members. For details call 0151 630 0771.