If you tried to create something gorgeous, something captivating and mesmerizing, you'd probably end up with a kingfisher. They are simply stunning creations, see the attached photo. This was captured by Peter Hewitt, a visitor to our Rye Meads nature reserve, who's happy to share it.
Right now, you can see the kingfishers for yourselves at Rye Meads. The parents have just hatched their eggs in a man-made kingfisher bank, right in front of a prime vantage point. You've got about two weeks before the chicks fledge.
The parents are easily visible as they're having to flit back and forth from the nest to their hunting grounds as they try to keep the chicks fed. Each one needs about 12 to 18 small fish daily and there could be as many as seven chicks in that nest. That's at least 84 fish a day, not including food for the exhausted parents.
Luckily, Rye Meads can help support them. Elsewhere, especially in the north of the UK, we're growing increasingly concerned as the heat dries out wetlands and threatens wildlife. It's not too bad heat-wise here in the south east but a look at the nearest golden yellow grassy area is enough to show you things are drying out.
We've been working with partners for some time now on land management techniques that can reduce heat stress. Planting more trees, improving wetlands and even just restricting grazing by farm animals in certain areas can all help improve water retention and reduce water loss.
This is all done in partnership with farmers, landowners and utility companies. It's the physical embodiment of our Letter to the Future campaign.Together we can make our money work harder to benefit widelife alongside development. Admittedly it means putting large sums of money upfront, but the longterm financial, environmental and social benefits are repaid several times over. Often reducing extra spend at a later date finding engineering solutions to problems that nature provides for free. Carbon capture, water filtering and temperature or humidity control are all things nature does on a grand scale... FOR FREE!
The more people that sign the petition, the greater the pressure we can put on the Government to do more to encourage similar partnerships and investments. With huge budget cuts and pressure on future spending we all need to be a little more clever with our investments; prising every benefit we can out of every penny.
Spin-offs from this strategy include nicer places and better wildlife, the creation of green jobs and local enterprise, plus a boost in tourism to see the amazing nature that is supported by the environmental improvements.
When it comes to politics, the kingfishers haven't got a vote, let alone to a voice to shout for help. Please add your voice to ours to keep the kingfisher on his throne and water deep within the Northern Uplands.