Show your love for nature in Northern Ireland

To mark Valentine’s Day, we would LOVE you to connect with nature. Here are five ways for you to play your part and help us give nature a home and protect our precious species and habitats:

1. Take action and help to Revive our World

A green recovery from Covid-19 is our chance to revive our world and build a better, greener and fairer future for Northern Ireland. If you love nature, this is an opportunity we can’t afford to miss. Right now, the NI Finance Minister is making challenging spending decisions on how to recover the economy. A Green Recovery Fund will ensure that public money and solutions for rebuilding the economy after Covid-19, restore nature, help reduce carbon emissions and create much-needed green jobs too.
We need more voices standing up for nature. If enough of us speak up for nature, we have the power to influence the Minister’s decision and ensure he funds a better future for people and nature.
Can you take two minutes to help us campaign for change and ask the Finance Minister to establish a Green Recovery Fund for Northern Ireland?

Just click here: https://e-activist.com/page/74949/action/1?ea.tracking.id=email



2. Join us at the Northern Ireland Science Festival

Join us for an online adventure around Northern Ireland, inspired by the BBC's popular Winterwatch series. Hosted live by youth climate activist Dakota Reid (pictured, above) and RSPB NI’s Jonny Bell and Claire Barnett, this event will explore some of Northern Ireland’s most beautiful and wildlife rich landscapes, from peatlands in Antrim to native species habitat on the shores of Lough Neagh. Through a series of special reports from leading conservation and climate experts, see how these special places and species are under threat, and learn more about the innovative nature-based solutions that have been put in place to protect them. Most importantly, ask live questions and learn how you can ‘Revive our World’ by demanding real change for nature. 

Book here: https://www.nisciencefestival.com/e21407-rspb-ni-saving-species--combatting-climate-change



3. Make a date with nature post-lockdown

Across Northern Ireland, many of our RSPB reserves are currently closed due to lockdown restrictions. However, the reserves will still be there to enjoy as restrictions are eased in the coming weeks and months. Make a mental note to save a date with nature post-lockdown and enjoy our beautiful wild places. You can keep up to date with which facilities are open, and find our latest nature reserves Covid-19 safety guidance here: https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/rspb-news/news/stories/coronavirus/reserve-reboot/
In the meantime, why not show the wildlife on your doorstep some love? This is a great time of year to put up some next boxes, make a garden pond or plant some trees or shrubs. More nature-friendly gardening tips here: https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/gardening-for-wildlife/year-round-gardening/february/



4. Join a movement of people calling for change

Nature is amazing. It brings us joy, and it inspires us. But nature is in crisis. The next two years are critical for nature, and Northern Ireland must play its part to help turn things around.
If you want to take action, you can become an RSPB campaigner and join a mass movement of people who are calling for change. As a campaigner, we will give you guidance and support to fight for the issues you care about most, plus lots of opportunities to take action online and in your community (when it's safe to do so).
Right now, we’re campaigning for legally-binding targets to restore nature by 2030 and a green recovery from the pandemic. We know the challenge is big, and we can’t get there alone. So, let’s work together and we will #ReviveOurWorld.

Sign up here: http://bit.ly/CampaignerRSPB 

5.Get involved with your RSPB Local Group and love the nature near you

Our volunteer-led RSPB Local Groups are the face and voice of the RSPB in your local community - groups of people working together to really make a difference for nature where it counts.
In Northern Ireland we have six volunteer-led local groups which are based in Antrim, Belfast, Coleraine, Fermanagh, Larne and Lisburn.
Due to Covid-19, the groups are coming together digitally to deliver a diverse series of talks for new and existing members to enjoy.
Topics range from birding tales from across the globe to local conservation success stories. You can find details about upcoming talks on the Local Group web pages (linked above) or by following @RSPBNI on Facebook to keep up with the latest online event listings.
If you’d like to find out more about joining a Local Group, email colin.graham@rspb.org.uk

Picture credits: Great-crested grebes and gannets by Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com); curlew by Neal Warnock.