A bird hide is exactly what you need if a robin this big jumps in your garden.

Fortunately, this was just Ricky the man-sized robin, a friendly mascot on hand to celebrate the revamping of the bird hide at Millbrook Garden Centre in Station Road, Southfleet, on Saturday .

The garden centre’s hide was set up two years ago, and has since grown to become a magnet for many birds including blue tits, greenfinches, robins, thrushes blackbirds, greater spotted woodpecker, sparrow hawks and cuckoos.

Now it has been turned into a unique birdspotter’s retreat, decorated with original illustrations by Kirsty Mauritz, the daughter of Sue and Dick Allen, the original founders of Millbrook as well as a bird identification wall and a guide to what plants are on the bank.

The grand opening coincided with National Nest Box Week organised by the British Trust for Ornithology, and half-term bird themed children’s workshops.

Visitors on Saturday received a certificate entitling them to a gift or offer on bird care at Millbrook, and children enjoyed a fun treasure hunt around the wildlife garden.