Sun bathing and planning battles

Sun bathing blackbirds are a thing to behold. The first time I saw one, I thought I was looking at a nesting moorhen with a chick under each wing. A second, closer, look revealed it for a puffed out blackbird with fully extended wings and fanned tail feathers.

So why do blackbirds sunbathe? I don't know, but there are a few theories. First and most obvious is that they like it. Second, they do it to maintain body temperature. Theory number three is that it's a way of maintaining feathers in good condition. It's probably a mix of all three.

Lots of birds do this sun and dust bathing, but it seems most do it out of sight. Blackbirds are less shy and are fond of open spaces, so we're more likely to come across them mid-bathe.No bird, to my knowledge, has yet taken to using our Skinny Dipper soaps. This range is made without palm oil, phosphates or parabens and I happen to really like Lemon Balm and Gardener's soaps. Profits help fund our conservation work so you can both smell and feel good when using it.

 A great victory achieved thanks to cash from the sale of our products and supporters contributions is that at Crowthorne, west of London. rare heathland habitat was threatened by plans for a 975 home development. The developers were told by the government to scrap the scheme, on the grounds that it would cause irreparable harm to the Thames Basin Heaths. We couldn't have afforded the time and effort required to build a case against this development without funding.

The RSPB's conservation officers tackle some 1,200 cases like this each year and some of these cases can drag-on for several years. Each has implications for future developments, as the results inform future applications. So if one site is protected for wildlife, it means similar cases will face the same restrictions. We have a high success rate and are proud of our achievements. We're not anti-development we simply want sustainable development, which is good for people, for wildlife and the economy.

Find out more by visiting our webpages or ask a member of staff at our stand [B/80 near the Floral Marquee] at the Hampton Court Flower Show this week.