Organised campaigning by passionate people is an unstoppable force - this was a key message put over by Mike Clarke opening our evening launch of our new campaign - Stepping Up for Nature.
Environment Secretary, Caroline Spelman responded - and she is stressing the benefits of partnerships. The benefits of protecting nature is understood across the world, Nagoya was a political watershed and set a global framework. She acknowledged that the value of the natural environment is widely accepted especially since the publication of the TEEB report looking at the economics of biodiversity.
Mrs Spelman recognised the benefits of the RSPB's Futurescapes programme – in particular the work we are doing on the Thames – she welcomed the contribution that individuals are already making and also acknowledged the role Government has to play.
Kate Humble, our president finished the formal part of the evening by stressing the benefits the natural world bring to us – so why wouldn’t we want to Step Up!
That’s it for the evening – I’ll bring you some more considered feedback on the launch tomorrow.
Meanwhile here are some pictures of the evening.
And here's one taken of me - with Jo Treverton who has been at the heart of organising the campaign
And our star of the day, Dominik Reynolds, making certain Mrs Spelman gets the point.