This is going to be the year of the performer!
The fastest. The most athletic. The ones that put in the effort to make a difference. I'm talking about volunteers and wildlife. Both actively pursue their goals; whether it's a speedy peregrine falcon diving on its prey over St Paul's cathedral, swifts dipping in to ponds or lakes in our parks, or the thousands of people who give of their time, skills, knowledge and goodwill to benefit others.
Watch them and be inspired. I'm sure some people are motivated by performers on TV shows such as the X Factor or Strictly Come Dancing, who knows maybe even Frozen Planet. But there are lots of everyday moments that can drive you to achieve or explore. Over the seasonal break I was twice surprised by scenes I stumbled upon.
The first was just pre-Christmas at Clapton Pond in Hackney, where I saw a mother laden with shopping, a buggy and two small children. They'd paused in the fading evening light by the busy bus stop to capture a photo of a grey heron, hunched against the noise and cold on the small man-made island in the centre of the pond. An unexpected sight in this vey urban location.
A post Christmas stroll to try to walk off some of the food led me through Abney Park Cemetery. In amongst the calling of the crows and flapping of the pigeons was the shrill cry of a bunch of parakeets, easily spotted in the winter surroundings thanks to their lime green colouring. They looked like exotic tree decorations perched in the stark trees.
I think 2012 is going to be good for London's green spaces and wildlife. You can help gauge its health by taking part in this month's Big Garden or Big Schools' Birdwatch.
All this year, I'll be asking you to step-up your actions with me to improve our environment. An easy first step if you work or live in central London, is to enjoy a talk on the threats to the future of wildlife in our city, taking place at the Animal Estates studio in Bloomsbury. Our very own London Swift campaign will be the subject of a talk by world swift expert Edward Mayer on January 12.