High hopes that grounds of Beckhams' family home in Oxfordshire could become magnet for songbirds

                                                         

All that's missing is the binoculars - the Beckhams have a taste for country life (photo: Instagram) 

PLAUDITS to Sir David Beckham and wife Victoria for their efforts to create plenty of songbird habitat on what was once arable land in the grounds of their home near Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire.

Their ongoing planting project features many hundreds of native trees, shrubs and hedging plus an adjacent wildflower meadow with more than 20 varieties of wildflower and grass.

Importantly, a small lake has been created with an island in the centre.

The celebrity couple plant to install a bridge to this island plus festoon lighting though this proposal has sparked an objection from a neighbouring landowner and is subject to planning consent being granted by the local council.

It is not known what bird species are accommodated on site, but if either Sir David or Lady Beckham - or any family members - decide to take up birding, we could find out.

                                             

The grounds' landscape design by Portus and Whitton shows  the pond which  is likely to be attractive to birds - not just waterfowl but possibly also Kingfishers, Green Sandpipers and Grey Wagtails