Phoenix

Phoenix Forum - Vote now!

2019-06-28T08:23:00Z

Who will you choose? Vote for who you would like to join Phoenix Forum.

The RSPB Phoenix Forum is run and developed by young people for young people. The forum exists to represent the views of the RSPB’s youth membership, giving young people the opportunity to have a voice, discuss issues, engage with decision makers and contribute to improving the RSPB.

To vote please read all the manifestos published below, then send the name of the person you would like to vote for in an email to: phoenix_MB@rspb.org.uk by 26 July 2019. Please also include your name and membership number in the email.

The new members will be announced in August and they will officially join the Forum in September.

1. Anna

I would like to join the Phoenix Forum for a variety of reasons. Most importantly, I would like to make a difference. I know that as a forum member I would be able to make the UK a better place for wildlife. I would also love to meet like-minded people who feel as passionate about wildlife as I do. As well as that, joining the forum would provide me with invaluable experience for future careers, which I hope will involve wildlife. There are many things I want to achieve as a forum member. To me, insects are incredibly important; I want to improve the amount of wildflower spaces, and decrease the amount of insecticides used in farming. I have lots of skills and experience which include the following:
• I run a debate club.
• I have written for RSPB Wingbeat magazine.
• I have been awarded for being top of my year group for Ethics and English.
• I was a member of the global learning Club, where we raised awareness of global issues, such as deforestation.
• I was on the school Eco council for over four years.
• I enjoy meeting new people.

2. Eve

I am passionate about wildlife and volunteer at The Animal Sanctuary UK every weekend.I am hoping to join the RSPB Phoenix Forum because I believe that wildlife is very important and that more people should be aware of how and why we should protect it. I also want to meet new people, have fun and gain experience. I think that I would be a good addition to the forum as I have a lifelong passion for the care of nature and I am dedicated to helping it thrive. I am good at writing articles and have volunteered with the Chiltern Rangers, caring for wildlife whilst improving areas for people. If I were to be given a place on the Phoenix Forum, I would hope to improve the world for wildlife whilst improving my personal knowledge and building confidence. I hope to make friends in the forum and encourage others to consider wildlife in the hope that nature has a bright future.

3. Harvey

My name is Harvey and I spent the last two years endeavouring in wild interpretation across the UK, chasing a beast across the countryside – the animal in question; the Eurasian beaver.
Now beavers went extinct in Britain about 300 years ago, yet they are an ecosystem engineer, an organism that actively changes the environment, benefiting many other species. In Cornwall recently, these beavers had saved an entire species – the water vole. A rodent which has seen a 96 percent decline nationwide, that’s almost extinction, through their dam building and felling actions – creating niches in an otherwise monoculture. And I think that’s what beavers wholly demonstrate; the power of the natural world. And it reveals that ecosystems are even more complex than thought. In restoring and repairing the natural world, we are ultimately proving wrong the idea that progress is achieved through the exploitation of nature.
In looking forward, to stand a chance at what the world may throw at us, we need to re-wild, repair and restore, both the biosphere and importantly ourselves - thinking bigger, louder and wider than ever before, so that we can let, boar and beast, feather and fang, run wild across the land again.

4. Jannis

I’m a 14-year-old living in King’s Lynn. Dutch is my mother language and I already have a GCSE in it. Norfolk is a great place to live with all the exciting nature reserves. I love to search for adders in Roydon Common and see the spectacle of huge flocks of pink footed Geese flying over Snettisham at sunrise on a winter’s morning. Plastics and over consumption are a real threat to the environment, even our school grounds are covered with plastic waste. I want to tackle these problems using the forum as a springboard. The Phoenix Forum needs good public speakers, people with knowledge of the environment and with creative ideas. I am exactly that. My public speaking is proven by taking part in the national final of the magistrate’s mock trial and my knowledge of biology comes from relentless walks through nature itself. I play in 4 school bands and take part in school productions showing my creative abilities.

5. Jasmijn

I'm back with another application having stepped up my wildlife advocacy game since last year: I've continued to run the birdwatching club - the highlight being another successful BSBW and bakesale, raising funds for the RSPB. I debate at an international level, which has developed my skills of persuasion, public speaking and analysis of complex problems. I attended and won the presentation award for the London geolsoc competition with a speech on alternatives to fossil fuels - proving those skills are transferable and will be an asset to the phoenix forum.
I volunteer at my local RSPB hide where I have learnt a lot more about waders, and continue to interact with the public on a regular basis. Most pertinently, I am a core organiser in the Belfast Youth Strike 4 Climate movement. We have organised strikes in Belfast following the movement sparked by Greta Thunberg on climate change and have drawn considerable crowds in a heartening display of passion for the preservation of our world. This kind of public advocacy has become a large part of my life and I would love the opportunity for another platform to fight for biodiversity and a chance to collaborate with other teens who share the same goal.

6. Jessica

Joining the forum would be an amazing opportunity for me, as I’m passionate about the world and its wildlife. When I’m older, I wish to pursue a career in ecology, zoology or conservation. I’ve always enjoyed the outdoors and care deeply about the creatures in it, hence it concerns me when I see how people are damaging it. I really want to make a difference and help people love their world as much as I do, so that they too will want to make a difference.
My personal efforts in making a difference are:-
-Creating a poster on Hen Harriers, now displayed around school.
-Planning a walk around Bowland to raise awareness and funds for the Hen Harrier RSPB project.
-Publishing an article on palm oil.
-Constructing habitats for hedgehogs, pond-life and bugs.
-Tree planting.
From 2014-2018 I’ve been a scout, learning bush-craft, map reading and life skills, as a patrol leader and competing in a weekend hiking competition. I’ve also completed my Chief Scouts Gold Award. The forum would give me a wonderful opportunity to learn, experience and share different skills and opinions. It would be inspiring to be around people who also care and share the same passion.

7. Kabir

I’m Kabir, a wildlife enthusiast based in London. I birdwatch in the capital and beyond often, and love to raise awareness about the capital’s unseen wild side. I mainly do this with the help of a map I’ve created, which has most of London’s nature reserves and wildlife sites on it. By joining the Phoenix Forum, I hope to inspire young people to appreciate the wildlife they have on their doorstep, and to show them that small changes can make a big difference. I also hope to represent the perspective of young people on a variety of topics, including how we can manage our landscape for nature, climate change affecting the country, and rewilding our cities. Finally, I would like to give young people the motivation to enjoy the natural world, and through the RSPB’s work, give them confidence and information to act to save nature.

8. Lucy

I am 15 years old and would like to be considered for the Phoenix forum please. I would like to encourage and protect the nature and wildlife around us. I would like to raise my own ideas through the RSPB Phoenix Forum , to influence and to learn from others. I am a keen photographer, specialising in more natural shots, especially of animals. In the past I have raised and released butterflies and ladybugs, and cared for two injured birds found in our garden. I also have lots of experience looking after domestic animals, including cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and pet fish. I would love to have the opportunity to help animals in the wild. I am a teen member of the RSPCA and hope to study animal’s sciences and care at college. I have always been home educated and am currently studying for GCSEs. I love to discuss conservation issues and look for solutions, I’d also like to learn more about the political issues involved. I enjoy writing and would feel privileged to write for Wingbeat and the Phoenix Forum.

9. Michael

I would like to join the forum because I think the lack of interest in wildlife from many young people is an issue of huge concern. I believe we need to develop more imaginative and effective ways of involving people in wildlife and environmental issues and communicating key messages. I will use my knowledge and skills as an active wildlife volunteer and climate change campaigner to engage more young people in a way that makes them value their environment but also recognise the important role they have to play . We need to remove the negativity around wildlife issues by showing people that it can be interesting, fun and rewarding. I have many ideas which I am confidently able to put across to groups of all ages. I present regularly to groups in my local area about my wildlife work. Some main things I will focus on would be helping people understand the purpose of the climate strikes and giving other youth the confidence people to get involved in local nature activities in their communities and ‘spread the word’ through delivering talks and workshops. I will focus on helping young (non-forum) members to ensure that their voices are also heard.

10. Samantha

I would like to join the Forum because I love nature and informing other people about it. I believe that everyone should respect and enjoy nature like I do. We should all use it sustainably as we can learn many new things from it. As a Forum member, I would like to encourage others to help wildlife and spread awareness of endangered species (of both animals and plants.) If I join the Forum, I would bring my experience of informing others about serious matters, as I am a Mental Health Ambassador for my school. I work well, both on my own and in a team, as I have completed my Baden Powell Trefoil Challenge with Guides. I am about to start the Bronze DofE. By becoming a Forum member, I would like to get more people involved in looking after nature and being aware of the current disasters in the world, such as deforestation. I would also like to become more confident with working with people I have never met before. I hope you can see how eager I am about inspiring others about nature and would be grateful if you would consider me as a possible Phoenix Forum member.

11. Sennen

Our planet truly is amazing! I don’t mean to be cheesy but the complexity, diversity, resilience, mystery and beauty of wildlife just in the UK is mesmerising. I love bird watching and wildlife photography and would be grateful if I got to inspire other people, especially younger ones, to feel excited about nature and run for their binoculars rather than a TV remote or phone. I think that it's so important to have a connection with nature even in our busy lives. I’m sure that many people particularly at my age think that it’s not ‘cool’ to be a nature lover or don’t understand what it’s like to get excited when you see your first swift of the year over the school grounds. I want to show people that nature is cool, very cool! something that I feel isn’t emphasised enough in school. More importantly I also want to help raise awareness about the increasing importance of climate change and how we can inspire people to work together to heal our planet. In the next few years we have a chance to act and I want to act (with as much enthusiasm as possible) on the behalf of our planet.

GOOD LUCK to all our applicants! Thank you to everyone who submitted a manifesto.

Drawing inspiration from nature

2018-01-05T14:58:01Z

My name is Shaheryar Chishty, I live in Sheffield and I am twelve years old, I am very passionate for my poetry. My favourite time of year is December, my reason for this is that the most splendour bird is often seen at this time of year, the king fisher. It manifests its pallet of harlequin colours however it is very difficult to catch a glimpse of it because of it’s speed.

My most treasured wild life moment was when a blue mopho sat on me shining it most glistening wings at the butterfly park. When I am older I plan to be a neurosurgeon however I would like to do poetry as a hobby. My inspiration for my poetry comes from my father’s photography. My father’s art and my lyrics work together so well. For the coming season you should look out for some exquisite birds like the jay.

One of the best places to go when you’re feeling stressed is the botanical garden, the reason for this is that the area has tranquil ambiance and you may enjoy your verdant surroundings. My technique for writing poetry is to look at the subject I intend to write about, if any ideas or phrases come to my mind I note them down in my book, if I rearrange the words they end up as a poem.

Sweet Robin

I like to frolic

I like to leap

To sing melodiously in the trees

In the autumn I look for worms

I perpetuate my journey in the sky

Looking for different meals

So my family can try

I attract many birds

Due to my pulchritude

My brown marble eyes

My breast is dipped In bronze

Escaping from the commotion of the claret sky

I rest on the apple tree, and watch people go by

The blue morpho

I live a life of mirth

Fluttering, coming to rest on my verdant bed

My life is very short

Only a few weeks

But my wings lie

Inflating like bellows, taking a deep breath

I live my time to the fullest

Feeding on saccharine vivers

Making my satin wings coruscate

I clap through the air

Putting a magic enchantment on my lovers

To stop and glance at my lustrous colors

I wear a burnt sleeve on my wings

I rest my wings

A silky brown closed book

Until I take off again

I open this book and display the iridescent pages

A shade of indigo

A flickering light

I charm the flowers with all my might.

The life of the rocks

In the babbling

Brawling

Bubbling stream

Rocks sit together

Blanketing themselves

In a viridescent green

The lemon waters

Are gushing all day long

Gurgling and cleansing

They sit firmly and strong

They endure the cold

And drink the morning breeze

The sun peaks dutifully

Shining through the windows of the trees

The oak trees cough gently

Releasing fluttering leaves

landing on the heads of the rocks

for it is their freedom to explore

It’s what they need

The rock remains squatting

Rooted to the ground

Serving nature responsibly

Sitting still not a sound

Sometimes it’s a retreat

For birds to drink and perch

To play with their friends

To take a bath and to chirp

The rocks have lived for many many years

They have witnessed all the laughter

And lived all the tears.

Joy in The Night

Joy is the moon crescent smiling down at you with vivid, silver, lips

Shining luminously as it watches over you, creating sprightly shadows that dance

The trees revel at the spectacle of their own silhouette

As they bounce buoyantly between the winds whistles,

Slowly whistling sending the trees to sleep

Cradled in the arms of the wind

The dragon flies flutter with flavescent leaf wings

Their bodies are varnished in a sapphire ink, illuminating the night sky

Attached to the eyelashes of the fern lays still the dragonfly

Waiting for the giant jacinth fire ball to be tossed in the horizon

To start the new day.

Woodland treasures

The robin ceases its evening song

The cricket holds its last croak

For a bird, will come out

The curtains have opened of the old oak

Here it comes

A bird with Smokey quartz feathers

Eyes like glass beads

One of woodlands greatest treasures

It dawdles and it dives

From high ascending trees

Dodging dainty daisy’s

Passing buzzing bees

It’s often seen flying

Traveling in a pair

Chasing after each other, exuberantly

Fluttering in the air

He wears a dark brown blazer

With a cerulean silk cuff

A cream bowler hat

A stripy fluffy puff

The trees call for it to be perched on

Shading the Jay with its leafy canopy

The Jay shares his adventures to the tree

And the tree speaks natures profundity.

By: Shaheryar A. Chishty

My Local Patch - Alexandra Palace Park, London

2017-12-13T17:09:40Z

Just over 150 years ago, Alexandra Palace Park was opened as a Victorian leisure park, with 196 acres of woodland, open grassland, formal gardens and a boating lake. The 'Peoples Palace' sits up high in north London and has spectacular panoramic views of the city and its incredible skyline. I know that it might appear strange, to some, that we get some great bird watching opportunities but trust me, we get some 'megas!'

Since the age of 9, I've been very lucky to be part of a local birders group, who, excuse the pun, took me under their wing. Over the years, they have shared their knowledge, experience and passion of birding and in return have used my younger eyes & ears to spot for them.

One of my most memorable times was when I was off school, recovering from an appendectomy. Feeling kind of miserable for myself, I sat up in bed, gazing out of the window. I'm rather lucky that I have a good view of the boating lake and my mood was quickly lifted when I thought I saw something rather special. I grabbed my binoculars, checked what I thought I had seen and then yelled to my mum to come quickly. I swiftly put on my clothes and we sped off to get close to the lake. Were my eyes deceiving me? "Quick Mum, call Dom, I've got a smew!'

Smew

Within moments, word was out that I'd found this rare winter visitor and birders from all around excitedly arrived. It was simply brilliant and with cameras clicking furiously, we all captured the female duck as it repeatedly dipped in and out of the lake, diving for fish.

The Ali Pali birders

On another occasion, I was out with a couple what are affectionately known as, the 'birding blokes'. We were near to the cricket ground, surveying the scrubland close by. Then miraculously something caught our attention. A small sparrow like bird was on the ground. We focussed our binoculars and were amazed to see that it was infact a wryneck, sitting on the grass. At first there was some doubt, as the grey colouring with brown mottling are common in many birds. It was only when we could clearly see the dark band of brown, running down from the back of the head, that our hopes were confirmed.

Wryneck

In my garden, which is adjacent to the park, I get some terrific birds. These have included; fire crest, yellow browed warbler and even a peregrine falcon. My favourite of all though, has to be the bird that, in 2010, made my Christmas Day complete...the redpoll. The freezing conditions were ideal and with niger seed feeders full, at one point I counted 23 fabulous finches, including both lesser and mealy varieties.

Redpoll

So next time you're in this wonderful part of the country, please take a moment to look up, down and all around....you never know what you might see!

Henry

UNbelieveable - UN climate talks

2017-11-13T21:03:07Z

With the current UN climate change talks upon us, what has actually been achieved since the Paris talks last year? Well considering it has only been a year - and in political time that is very little and in geological time it is nothing at all - we have made some good starting points. As we can all agree climate change is not going to go away and we need to tackle it head to save our planet.

From 6-17 November the UN nations are meeting again in Bonn to discuss and carry on what they started in Paris. However America and more precisely Donald Trump have backed out of the agreement which is a big step back for the climate as America is one of the largest producers of greenhouse gas. On the positive side of things major producers like China are still in and are surging ahead with plans for a greener future.

Image Andy Hay www.rspb-images.com

From these talks me and many others would like to see many things done to better our planet. However maybe some things are more pressing than others. 70% of the atmospheres oxygen comes from the sea, it is produced by marine plants like phytoplankton. However the ocean currently has about 10 million tons of plastic in it. 10 million tons. That's equal to 1.5 million adult African elephants in our oceans.

Our oceans are under a constant hail of pollution, with over fishing, oil spills and all the rubbish that goes in there. In a hundred years time if nothing changes then going to the beach will not be a leisurely experience as you will have to wear and full body bio hazard suit. The sad thing is that the world has enough resources to empty the seas of rubbish and prevent there to be any further build up. It would cost less than the United States defence budget for one year. So here's a thought how about we stop threatening to blow each other up and actually spend all of this money to making the world great again.

In the coming years there will be lots of tension within the environmental sector as growing countries want to produce the more and more goods to boost their economies and get themselves into the upper echelon ring of "superior" countries. This continual economic growth will undoubtedly put out a lot more greenhouse gas into our atmosphere and will therefore contribute to climate change. These developing countries will never agree to stop production however we must find ways to reduce their carbon footprint or to reach a compromise otherwise our planet will surely face its demise.

William Walsh

Little terns

2017-10-27T22:09:00Z

If you live near the beach, or you visit the beach in the summer, you might (if you're very lucky) have heard the distinctive squawk of a little tern or even seen one. This sea bird is the smallest of the terns in the UK.

The little tern is a mainly white bird, with pale grey upper wings and back with a dark crown. What distinguish them from other terns are their size, as well as their black tipped yellow beak.

Little tern from RSPB-images.com by Ben Andrew

The little tern is a coastal and migratory species. They migrate to Europe during the summer months of April and May to breed and take advantage of the more temperate climate. During this time, they can also been found in parts of Asia and Australasia. However, in winter months, the little terns that you see in the UK generally return back to the coasts of Africa.

Little terns, being a coastal species, like to live on the coast but can also be found in more sheltered coastal areas such as harbours, spits, and bays – about 150m from the tide line. They usually nest on shingled beaches, as this is where their eggs can be camouflaged pretty well as similar to shingle, they’re a pale grey colour with darker speckles. Little Terns also normally nest near shallow waters so that they can easily feed on types of crustacean and fish.

In spite of little terns being one of the most widespread species in the world, there are few of them, and are regarded as an amber species. In the UK, there are less than 2,000!

Little tern from RSPB-images.com by Ben Andrew

This is due to many reasons, one of which is human disturbance. The building of dams, sediment extraction and coastal development are examples of human activities that have affected the little tern population.

Little terns are particularly vulnerable due to their nests only being small depressions in the ground, making it easy for predators, such as foxes, or even people, to access their nests and take eggs. Another issue, come rising sea levels due to climate change, are eggs being washed away due to an amplified high tide.

This, added to their naturally low breeding rate is why their population is so low.

A growing problem that I’m particularly passionate about is ocean plastics. Over the past 50 years, the ocean has seen a huge increase in plastic, which has inevitably, affected sea life.

From micro beads in our toothpaste (which are in the process of being banned in the UK, hooray!) to polystyrene fibres from your jumper – whether we mean to or not – they end up in our ocean, creating artificial plastic islands such as the infamous ‘Great Pacific garbage patch’.

Unfortunately, this is not the total wrath of the plastic. This durable polymer has affected the ocean’s inhabitants and every fish-eating organism – including sea birds such as Little Terns.

Luckily, unlike albatross, Little Terns don’t venture far out into the ocean and don’t skim their beaks along the surface of the water to catch fish. So maybe the plastic problem isn’t currently at the top of the Little Tern’s list. However, with growing amounts of tiny, plankton size pieces of plastic, the problem of the plastic will grow to be more apparent for birds such as the Little Tern.

The RSPB have been running a project to monitor and improve the breeding success of little terns.

https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/our-work/conservation/projects/little-tern-recovery-project

Learn more about the results:

https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/about-the-rspb/about-us/media-centre/press-releases/little-tern

Emmy

Book review - Sky Dancer

2017-09-05T16:12:00Z

Gill Lewis, the acclaimed children’s writer, will be releasing her latest book this October.

‘Sky Dancer’ is centred on the controversial topic of the illegal killing of hen harriers (‘sky dancers’) and the relationship between these birds and driven grouse shooting. Joe, the teenage son of a gamekeeper on the local grouse moors is involved, from the first page, in a moral and emotional struggle between deep-rooted tradition and the ethical arguments against some of the keepers’ practices.

When I learned of the premise of the book, I was intrigued as to how such mature and divisive themes would be presented in a book aimed at young people. Since the book explores ideas about loyalty, grief, family hardship and community tension, it was key that the book be written with a lot of balance so that it was neither too disturbing nor difficult to read. I think that this was superbly achieved and full credit must go to Gill Lewis for the way that such themes were handled.

In focusing on such issues, I also really enjoyed how informative and educational the book was. It was clearly really well researched on two levels: the different arguments for the two sides of the hen harrier debate were fully integrated into the plot and secondly, there were various facts and pieces of information which I found to be very interesting. Thus I believe that while the plot is wonderful, the educational weight that this book carries makes it a must read for any-one interested in the natural world and that this book can be a tool for learning purposes.

I always find educational books to be useful, but what sets this apart from most books on this subject is the simple fact that it is fiction. Subsequently, the characters, the setting, and the plot are all fictional, giving Lewis the chance to weave an engaging and enjoyable plot and to give a very important message. It is for this reason that I would recommend this book for all ages; some, like me, will find it relatively simple, yet brilliantly informative, and I believe that most children will be able to connect with the characters and read a book which could open their eyes and encourage them to make a difference (you can pre-order it here).

So, in an area which the RSPB has devoted a lot of time and attention, Sky Dancer brings the debate to life for young readers, and looks set to be a great success.

Jojo Jenner

Author of Sky Dancer Gill Lewis

Festival season

2017-08-22T18:13:00Z

Last night, I got back from my second ever Birdfair, feeling tired and a little bit depressed that I would have to wait a whole year for the next one.

I should probably give a quick description of the event, in case anyone has never been before. It is an annual fair held in August, and is bird-themed (with some other wildlife thrown in too).

There are stalls held by wildlife holiday companies, artists, conservation charities and camera and optic brands - you can test out all of the equipment too! There are also talks given all through the day at different marquees, from both celebrities and dedicated conservationists, on a variety of topics ranging from wildlife politics to photography and twitching.

For me, it started with an alarm going off at 5.00 and a 3 hour car journey up to Rutland.
I had volunteered to spend the first two days of the Birdfair helping the RSPB, but I didn't know exactly what my role entailed. But this was soon explained to me - I was signing up children to the Bug Safari and Pond Dipping walks that would take place at regular times throughout the day. Easier said than done; children were few and far between. This wasn't so much of a problem on Saturday and Sunday, but on Friday it was very difficult to muster enough families to make the walks viable.However, it did allow me to spend the quieter periods chatting to people.

This is the best thing about the Birdfair, in my opinion - catching up with friends that you haven’t seen in ages, and meeting a lot of new people with similar interests and enthusiasm.

The AFON meet-up at Birdfair

In my time off the stand, I went to some talks.
The Politics of Wildlife Protection in Britain was hosted by Mike Dilger and featured Mark Avery, Anneka Svenska, Dominic Dyer and Chris Luffingham. It highlighted some of the major issues in the politics wildlife protection, and how we can make the situation change.

Other highlights include the results from the Bird Photographer of the Year competition (which were ridiculously amazing - look at the photos online when they are put up), and Mike Dilger’s talk ‘So you want to be a Wildlife Presenter?’ which gave an insight into the life of a wildlife presenter.

Steve Backshall also made two appearances, and both were very entertaining and enjoyable.

I decided to join Dr Roger and Rosie Key on the final Bug Safari of the day, where Mike Dilger was accompanying the group! I had a lot of fun with the pooters, I'm not in the least ashamed to admit.
My personal favourite species I caught was the Thistle Gall Fly, which lays its eggs in the flowerheads of thistles, causing a gall to grow on the inside. The flies themselves have beautiful zebra-striped wings.

A picture of me and Nick Baker, courtesy of my sister

My experience ended with the prestigious role of bag-holder for Nick Baker, as he chose the winner of a competition, and a quick filmed interview as to why I love the Birdfair.

I said my final goodbyes and returned home, with a handful of signed books to keep me going until next year.

James

Sherborne Park Estate - My Local Patch

2017-08-10T15:01:59Z

My local patch is the National Trust’s Sherborne Park Estate which has different habitats and provides the opportunity to see different wildlife. I have a long-haired German Shepherd so she needs long walks and the space at Sherborne Park Estate allows her to run and for me to see animals and birds up close.

My walking companion

I am lucky enough to live in a place where there are many red kites and it is possible to see them searching for prey and also nesting. They are quite fearless and curious and on occasion, they have even flown almost along side me when I am out running!

I am aware that there can be divided opinion on red kites with some people perceiving them as a problem, however, it is difficult to not be impressed when they are silently hovering over you and gliding effortlessly next to you.

https://vimeo.com/80364502

Footage - RSPB.images.com

Whilst the red kites can mostly be spotted out in the open meadows, I have spotted newly dug badger sets under the cover of a little woods. My family and I have been watching the area for any new signs and we have been encouraged by the claw marks on the ground and paw prints.

My little brother loves to spot them! We are careful never to get too close to the set. What I have realised from observing the badger set is that an interest in nature is not specific to any age and everyone can appreciate it and learn new things.

Image - Ben Andrew RSPB-images.com

I have recently finished my exams and walking the dog up at Sherborne allowed me to clear my head and to de-stress from the pressure of exams. I found that the wide, open fields and light breezes helped me to stop panicking and stressing and that the wildlife I would see allowed me to be distracted from revision, in a positive way.

Some of you will have watched Spingwatch on BBC 2 this year and may have realised that they filmed this year’s series at Sherborne Park Estate. For somebody local, this allowed me and my family to know what other birds were at my local patch, like the chaffinches and wagtails. So now, when we go for walks up there, I keep an eye out for some of the birds mentioned on the programme in hope to see something new, and still look out for the frequent wildlife up there, like hares, barn owls, muntjac deer and foxes.

What I have discovered is that surrounding yourself in nature helps you stay calmer and can have help reduce your stress levels. Whether it is just a little patch of green somewhere nearby or vast expanse of land, a local patch really helps you to switch off, relax and distract you from the stresses of day-to-day life.

Lily

My week at the RSPB

2017-08-08T17:10:14Z

Helena Wright, aged 14, writes about her work experience at the RSPB.

Work experience is something very memorable for many people. For mine, I wanted to do something that I’d never really done before, ideally to do with the media as that’s something I’d like to go into in the future.

For these reasons, I decided to go to the Fundraising and Communications department at the RSPB Lodge in Sandy, mainly working with the Consumer PR team. Throughout the week, I had many opportunities to do different types of work.

My week included inductions with: the Media team, the Campaigns team, the Events team, and of course, the PR team. It was really interesting to learn how much work goes on behind the scenes and how different the work of each team is.

One of my first tasks which I often came back to throughout the week was to do with magazines. On my first day, along with some of the PR team, I went out to buy a variety of different magazines, some more to do with wildlife than others.

I was then given the task of going through each one and making notes of the editors and authors of specific articles to do with wildlife or nature. I also made notes of any magazines which had room for more articles or sections to do with wildlife, perhaps a magazine which focused on health issues. This helped the team to find any potential magazines to approach.

It was really interesting to do this, as it put into perspective how much work and effort actually goes in behind the scenes of a seemingly simple article or advertisement.

I was instantly welcomed by everyone when I first entered the work place. The environment within the office certainly reflected this. Although everyone mostly independently works both on the computer and phone when in the office, there was always a friendly chit-chat from desk to desk.

On my second day, I was taken on a nature walk by two members of the department. It was really interesting to talk with them generally as we walked the scenic route. However, what really made the walk was when we completely by chance bumped into someone who was going to the far end of the reserve to watch some nesting hobbies.

Image credit David Knowles

He very kindly let us join him, and as well as seeing some general wildlife on the way, we were able to see the hobbies and learn about their lives. The reserve is actually so much bigger than I realised, and is such a lovely place to work around and be near to.

Another thing I did which spread over a couple of days was creating and editing some agile content. The title of this was ‘Where have all the birds gone?’ We made and edited a short video explaining why all the birds seem to disappear in peoples gardens over summer.

We started off by writing a script for the video. We then found relevant spots around the reserve to film each shot, before filming the video. I then found some music to go in the back, before helping to cut and edit the final video.

The Phoenix Forum is a kind of council for young RSPB members to get involved in the making of the teenage membership package, as well as external events. I was given the opportunity to write a press release for its 20^th anniversary coming up this year. I had to pick out extracts from an article written by Youth Officer Tony Garrett and turn them into a press release celebrating the Forum. This was very interesting to do as not only was I learning about the Forum, I was learning details on how press releases are actually put together.

Overall, my experience was thoroughly enjoyable and it was very interesting to learn how everything works both in and out of the office.

Helena

A wild sleepout

2017-08-01T14:52:00Z

A weekend camping in your back garden is an experience not to be missed. We’ve all done it, some of us more times than others, but it is a classic memory that everyone needs to have. Being a nature-enthusiastic teenager who’s done this many times, I arrogantly call myself a connoisseur of weekend camping, to the point where I’ve figured out three key stages that any teen camping experience needs to have.

They’re the three stage rite of passage, the bread in a sandwich, the very air we breathe. They’re simply crucial, I say, adjusting my glasses, and they are as follows:

Phase One: Good Intent

The first phase of a camping sleepover is naturally the first three hours of goodwill and prosperity of the night. A scandalously early bed time is set – perhaps 12:30 – and the tent is set up.

Mattresses, fitted together like jigsaw pieces, indicate the complex social hierarchy of the teenagers involved. Some campfire songs are pulled out, dusted off and then promptly massacred by tone-deaf teens who shouldn’t be let into karaoke bars. Finally, eye masks are pulled on and, in something reminiscent of a scene from Snow White, the seven dwarves drift off to sleep.

Phase Two: Sugar

The second phase of the night is perhaps the worst: the seven bags of sweets, demolished only thirty minutes ago, make a comeback. Yes, the sugar has kicked in. It manifests itself in strange ways: To begin with, a multitude of little white screens filled the tent like fireflies, as we checked feeds or replied to whatsapp texts. Funny text-posts and horror stories are traded down the tent like prison inmates sharing contraband, and jokes are purchased with old, slightly furry sweets found on the tent floor.

Someone bravely finds an unopened bag of winegums under a pile of junk, and their exploits are greeted with muffled applause and cheering.

Phase Three: Nature late to the party

The third and final phase occurs at roughly 4:03 AM. At this point, everyone is finally quiet, their body clocks trying to salvage the situation as much as possible. It’s almost as if, Mother Nature, arriving late to the party and seeing everyone asleep, feels left out and throws a tantrum: The sun comes up with the speed and ferocity of an angry spotlight.

The haunting tawny owl is swiftly replaced by squabbling crows, and a pigeon perches on the tent to relieve itself. And, like toast being forcefully ejected from the toaster, the teens are up.

However, as if to make up for her earlier blunder, Nature quickly bestows upon the bleary campers a treasure trove of beauty: The morning air is breathtakingly fresh, the grass is speckled with crystal droplets of dew, and the sun sits like an amber jewel on the horizon. And the birdsong, well, the birdsong makes the past seven hours worth it.

It doesn't matter whether you camp in your back garden or out in the wilderness, it's a totally different way to experience nature.

Big Wild Sleepout takes place for one weekend every summer (this year it was 28-30 July). If you took part, be sure to tell them via their online award scheme, Wild Challenge.

Even if you missed the big weekend, there's still time for you to have a Wild Sleepout of your own this summer.

Rachel

Big Garden Birdwatch

2017-01-16T15:34:00Z

The Big Garden Birdwatch is one of the biggest, and most widely publicised, annual events in the RSPB calendar. Taking place across the last weekend in January, the event encourages people across the country to set aside an hour of their time to record the birds and wildlife that they see in their garden.

It all began in 1979, as a simple winter activity for the junior membership of the RSPB, which massively increased in scale once it received a mention on Blue Peter. Adults were invited to participate in 2001, and the event has now grown to the point where over over half a million people take part every year.

However, it is not only a hugely successful way of engaging people with the natural world. By participating in the Birdwatch you are also providing the RSPB with valuable information on the state of the UK’s garden bird population, which in turn can help conservationists to identify ways of helping those species in decline and see what conservation measures have been successful. For example, previous birdwatches have not only shown that over 75% of starlings have been lost, but also that blue tit numbers have increased by 20%.

Results from the Big Garden Birdwatch have shown a sharp fall in starling numbers - Image by Ben Andrew rspb-images.com

I have been actively participating in the Big Garden Birdwatch for several years now, and have always found it a wonderful way of making time for birdwatching among the demands of a hectic life. Each year I have discovered new wildlife in my garden that I was previously unaware of – nothing stunningly exotic, but still a surprise. Without the Birdwatch, there was no way that I would have noticed the flock of long-tailed tits (one of my favourite birds) in the flowerbed outside the living room window. I also have one nuthatch who makes a habit of conveniently appearing and remaining for far longer than usual every year during the Birdwatch. Watching it climbing down a tree just metres from my house was one of last year’s highlights. I have no idea whether it is the same bird each year or a completely different one, but its reappearance shows me just how much wildlife there is that I can enjoy without having to travel far.

Phoenix forum members birdwatching in 2014 - Image by Will Slater rspb-images.com

You don’t need a large garden to be able to see wildlife on your doorstep, but if you’re worried about having nothing to see, try putting out some bird seed or suet beforehand to give the birds a reason to visit.

This year, the Big Garden Birdwatch will take place from the 28-30 January. By taking an hour of your time to complete it, you are not only helping the RSPB with valuable conservation work but also hopefully having some fun as well! Why not gather your friends and family together to take part and make an occasion out of it? After all, the more eyes the better! Simply find a comfortable spot and count the highest number of birds that you see at any one time.

For more information on how to take part and to submit your results, visit the RSPB website.

Cadence

Cirl buntings

2017-01-09T03:10:00Z

Depending on how much of a birder you are, you may or may not know about the plight of the cirl bunting over recent years. Well, for the last 23 years, the RSPB has been targeting cirl buntings with increasing levels of success.

It all began in 1993 when a cirl bunting project officer was employed to work with farmers and other landowners, encouraging the provision of specific for these birds. And with 450 pairs being recorded in 1998 (mostly found in Devon), followed by a more promising 657 pairs in 2003, cirl bunting reintroduction trials began in 2004.

Cirl Bunting - Andy Hay rspb-images.com

The actual reintroduction program began in 2006 and it began to pay dividends swiftly, with the first breeding cirl buntings in over a decade recorded in Cornwall, 2007. It was then in 2008 that the RSPB bought land in Labrador Bay in Devon and declared it as the UK’s only cirl bunting reserve.

This was all part of the continued work with farmers in Devon and Cornwall where the RSPB provides advice and guidance on how to manage the land in a way suitable for these birds to flourish. The management involved here is encouraging those with the ability to do so to look after this species and thus create a connection between the locals and the cirl bunting. Similarly, the RSPB has become committed to working with (and against at times) local authorities and developers in areas like Teignmouth and Dawlish, ensuring that future building works do not harm the valuable populations of cirl buntings living there.

The agricultural scheme used with the cirl buntings is known as the Countryside Stewardship Scheme, read more about it here.

Thankfully, the results do not lie. At the last count, there has been an incredible 630 per cent increase in the cirl bunting population since the RSPB began the project all those years ago. Another benefit of the scheme is how much other species have benefited from the hard work put in by all those concerned in the cirl bunting project.

Brown hares have benefited from land managed for cirl buntings. Image Chris Gomersall rspb-images.com

Linnets, skylarks, brown hares and several rare plants have all taken major boosts from the project, and as a 2012 study said, “Agri-environment measures for cirl buntings have benefits for a range of taxa beyond the target species, and therefore, largely through reduction of management intensity and maintenance of land-use diversity, improve the overall biodiversity of the farmed landscape where they are present.” Not too catchy I’ll admit, but a great summary of the effect this work has had in Devon and Cornwall.

Ultimately, the cirl bunting is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when landowners and conservationists work together.

Jojo

Volunteering at Cwmclydach

2016-11-28T15:58:00Z

On the anniversary of our pledge to the #iwill campaign Phoenix Forum member Will shares his experience of volunteering with the RSPB:

I have been volunteering at the RSPB nature reserve just down the hill from where I live, for as long as I can remember.

Whether it was helping out with the local RSPB Wildlife Explores group, or carrying stupidly heavy railway sleepers up a 2km stretch of hill path to build a pond, I’m out and about helping around the reserve in one way or another pretty much every week. It’s an amazing way to experience the place whilst you’re helping it out.

I think volunteering with and around nature, is the best way to achieve things like Duke of Edinburgh because not only is it ticking a box for the challenge but you can learn and see things that you may not in other volunteering situations (eg helping out with your younger siblings rugby team).

From volunteering I have learnt many skills, like coppicing, which at first glance looks detrimental to the environment but is in reality quite the opposite, because it can create great places for butterflies and wild flowers which would often get swallowed up by bramble. Coppicing is great fun but I think that my favourite job at the reserve has to be when spring comes and this means chicks.

Tiny blue-tit chicks

Nuthatch fledgelings

One of the things I help out with is monitoring the bird boxes on the reserve and this is not only amazing because you get to see the awesome species that live there, but it’s the anticipation of seeing the eggs hatch. You get to watching the chicks grow week on week and eventually come to an empty box a knowing that they have all fledged. To get some of the boxes you may have to wade through swamps and scale trees, but that’s all part of the fun, cause who doesn’t love mud, right?

Ultimately when you finally get home aching because those logs weren’t gonna carry themselves and you can’t feel your feet because your so cold, you get amazing feeling of accomplishment because you got outside you’ve helped the world in your own small way and you’ve even got the bramble scratches to prove it.

And maybe if wading through rivers, caked in mud with your trusty spade isn’t your thing then even helping out at your local RSPB Wildlife Explorers group would be appreciated. Because nothing amounts to that amazing feeling of well being and fulfillment when you know that you HAVE done something and not just stayed at home and wished had done this and that.

Will

The #iwill campaign seeks to provide opportunities for 10-20 years-olds UK wide, allowing them to use their immense potential to help charitable causes.

Nature After Minerals – Quarries Into Habitats

2016-11-21T16:13:00Z

2017 marks the 10-year anniversary of the RSPB’s involvement with ‘Nature After Minerals’ (NAM). It’s a partnership programme in which the main focus is to encourage the restoration of ex-mining sites to wildlife habitats, in an attempt to conserve and to help endangered species to flourish.

What are the benefits of restoring Quarries?

The restoration of quarries carries several benefits for people and nature.

For one, it creates a nice area for people to learn about and discover nature. Aesthetically pleasing areas like these can also encourage people to be outdoors more and enjoy the fresh air. By restoring old land, it can also inspire people to make beneficial changes in their local areas. The restoration sets an example of what we should be doing.

Bittern at RSPB Minsmere - by Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com)

It also supports biodiversity by providing several different habitats, such as heathlands, grasslands and wetlands. In response, this increase in possible habitats combats the increase in the number of endangered species. For example, NAM states that ‘15% of endangered Bittern nest in UK restored quarries’, a very large percentage, and without the restoration of these quarries, we would be missing out.

These green areas can also act as carbon storage, an aspect that is important in areas such as Middleton Lakes that is situated near some larger urban areas.

What has been done?

Since 2010, NAM has provided restoration advice on some 3,600 hectares worth of land through interaction with over 40 quarries. On its website, NAM also showcases restoration best-practice case studies examples, one of which is Middleton Lakes in Staffordshire.

The RSPB’s Middleton Lakes reserve is a great example of a quarry restored for nature. Before the rejuvenation of the land, it was an excavation site for gravel and alluvial sand. Now, it’s a large wetland site and is home to an increasing numbers of birds such as bittern. One thing that was done to enable this was the planting of reed beds, and other vegetation along the banks of the rivers. This filters the water from the River Tame for the benefit of the wildlife within the reserve and improves the general water quality.

Additionally, several river features, such as ponds and river braiding, have been made in attempt to reverse the impact that the hard engineering river techniques had on the river. As a result, the NAM case study states that since the opening of Middleton Lakes in 2011, the reserve attracts 20,000 to 30,000 people a year.

Middleton Lakes is far from a lone success story, Dungeness is another good example. Dungeness in Kent is a coastal area that brings around 30,000 people a year and 214 notable species can be found in the reserve.

I think this partnership programme has been very successful in achieving their goals. I hope for the future, they will continue to be, and continue to support, encourage and aid communities, mineral planners, industries and others to restore and create habitats for endangered species.

If you are interested in knowing more about Nature After Minerals, you can look at the website here: http://www.afterminerals.com

Emmy

Bats and Halloween

2016-10-31T15:19:00Z

Bats are one of the animals most strongly assosciated with Halloween. Why?

Most would think that the answer is obvious, and lies in their blood-sucking habits. But no, their spooky connotations began long before the discovery of the vampire bat. Some believe it started with very early Halloween tradition, where people gathered around fires to ward off evil spirits. Bats feasted on the insects that were attracted to these fires, and so were noticed by the people, as they flickered in and out of sight.

This link was strengthened when rumours appeared from Spanish explorers of blood sucking bats feasting on the unwary.

However there is no need to be afraid of these creatures – out of over 1000 species of bat, only 3 survive off blood, none of which live in the UK.

The other common fear is that they will get stuck in your hair. Anyone who has ever witnessed bats in flight will know this is highly unlikely. Bats are extremely adept at both echolocation and flight; so much so that they can detect the strands of a spiders web. Some even specialise in plucking the spider from their web without actually touching the web itself - this amazing example of agility should be enough to convince anyone that their hair is safe.

Bats are in fact fascinating creatures, and wonderful to watch. They are apex predators, flying at speeds of up to 60mph and catching as much as 1200 insects in an hour.

We have 18 species in the UK, which come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and with a range of different techniques to catch their prey. Locally I can see our smallest bat, the pipistrelle, weighing about the same as a 20p coin. This is also the one you’re most likely to see. I often spend ten minutes trying to photograph them on the way back from walks - I don't often succeed, but the extraordinary experience of feeling bats pelt right past your face, sometimes even brushing your hair, is more than enough to compensate for their frustrating camera-shyness.

By Halloween bats are starting to become less active, going increasingly into states of torpor and only coming out on warmer evenings. However, that's not to say there's no point trying to see them.
If you do want to see bats (and I highly recommend it) try the following:

Walking around at sunrise or sunset on a warm night.
Looking at the Bat Conservation Trusts map of bat hotspots
Turning on your security light to attract insects and therefore bats.
Perhaps investing in a bat detector - I've heard they're well worth the money.

If you're interested in finding out more, please visit the bat conservation trust's website

Happy Halloween!

James Miller