April has arrived and it is officially the start of my Conservation Internship. Most new RSPB employees and some full time volunteers are invited to attend a two day induction course at RSPB Head Quarters at the Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire. The aptly named “RSPB Experience” is an excellent opportunity to meet fellow RSPB employees and volunteers and understand what exactly they do within the organisation. The course also outlines the RSPBs’ operational areas and how the membership money is spent. The highlight for me was an inspirational lecture given by Dieter Hoffman of BirdLife International giving us a very clear snapshot of the crucial work carried out internationally by the RSPB in partnership with other global conservation institutions.
The Lodge in all it's sping splendour....
All around the Headquarters the RSPB have created and nurtured a diverse range of habitats for birds, insects and mammals alike e.g. one of the hillsides was once home to many pines and other species of tree, but they have been removed to encourage the growth of heather, which has dramatically declined across the region and across the country.
I’m hedging my bets yew know what bird this is……!!!!!