Loins are girded and all that needs to be braced - is braced. Bring on 2008! Escapism isn't far from many people's minds so it's fitting out first event of the year will be the DESTINATIONS show at Earls Court.
While the holiday industry shows off its best we'll be sharing the experiences to be found at our reserves around the UK. Whether it's a one-to-one moment with nature you're looking for, or a great place to sip a warming drink and watch the world go by in all its technicolour glory, we have a Nature Reserve to suit.
As a conservation charity we are not as well known for providing human leisuretime actvities as we are for tirelessly working for a better environment for all. Which is part of the reason we've decided to set-up shop at Destinations. Our reserves are places of great beauty, inspiration and discovery and they're open to everyone. Of course I would say that wouldn't I. But don't take my word for it, go and visit a couple of them yourself. Better still, go along when we have an organised event to get the full benefit of an RSPB experience. You'll find things like pond dipping for children, healthy walks or maybe even sculpture trails. If you don't fancy visiting Earls Court our website lists all the reserves and gives info on how to get to them, what's there and what you may see. And yes, you can go away on holiday with us and benefit conservation at the same time. See the holiday pages on our website.
For armchair naturalists we have the ideal event coming up this month - it's the Big Garden Birdwatch on 26 and 27 January. This annual survey is when we ask people to spare us an hour of their time recording the birds they can see from their windows. This invaluable information gives us a snapshot of the state of the UK's birds to compare with results from previous years. It can flag up long-term trends in bird populations that tell us a bit about the condition of the world we all share. After the meterological ups and downs and flatlines of 2007 it will be interesting to discover what people do or, more importantly, don't see this year.
Half a dozen different New Year features in the papers extolled the virtue of positive thought on our health and well-being. "Think five positive things every day," decalred at least two different national papers. I'd urge you to go one better. Instead of simply thinking five positive things - DO something positive, like getting outside and discovering the life that shares your local parks, gardens and open spaces. If it's too cold or miserable outside, pull up a seat by your window and give yourself time and space to be captivated by the wild world going on around you.