The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds 



23, QUEEN ANNE'S GATE, LONDON. S.W. 



^ird-and-^ree (jirhor Day) Competitions. 



Bircl-aiicl-Tree Day was introduced into 

 Great Britain by the Royal Society for the 

 Protection of Birds in 1902. The aim and 

 intention of the scheme is : — 



1. To encourage the study of Birds and 

 Trees as an important part of the education 

 of children, in both town and country schools, 

 with a view to stimulating Bird Protection 

 and the preservation and planting of Trees, 

 on the basis of intelligent and practical 

 knowledge. 



2. To lead children to observe and think 

 for themselves and to find pleasure and 

 interest in their natural surroundings. 



3. To add to the pleasures of country 

 life by establishing a yearly Festival, capable 

 of varied celebration, to accord with the 

 spirit of different localities. 



The keynote of the scheme is personal 

 observation. Education lies greatly in draAv- 

 ing out the faculties, and in guiding the child 

 to observe in the right way and to think 

 and reason on a sound foundation of fact. 

 This is being more and more acknowledged 

 by Education Authorities, and by such 

 movements as the Boy Scouts ; and the Bird- 

 and-Tree Day Competition is worked on 

 these lines. 



Individual selection of subject gives im- 

 mediate individual interest in the study of it. 

 Selection of definite subjects prevents the 



use of vague and loose generalizations that 

 are apt to pass for Nature Study, and 

 necessitates care and accuracy of observation. 

 The stress laid on open-air work guards 

 against the frequent confusion of Nature 

 Study with mere committal to memory of 

 statements and phrases from reading-books 

 or schoolroom instruction. 



The County Challenge Shield Com- 

 petitions expand this central idea in a way 

 that fosters a healthy rivalry among schools, 

 and also encourages individual Competitors 

 by the award of prizes and medals. 



The scheme has stood the test of nine 

 years' experience. In every county where 

 the Competition is held it has the approval 

 and support of the County Education Com- 

 mittees and Directors ; in two counties it 

 is entirely under county management. The 

 Council of the R.S.P.B. are willing to under- 

 take the introduction and conduct of the 

 Competition in other counties, where Educa- 

 tion Committees wish to promote Nature 

 Study and will co-operate with the Society. 



The ultimate object of the Society is the 

 establishment of a NATIONAL BIRD-AND- 

 TREE DAY, and its recognition by the 

 National Education Department. 



All information can be obtained from the 

 Secretary, Royal Society for the Protection 

 of Birds, 23, Queen Amie's Gate, S.W. 



