Studying BSc Ecology at UEA and volunteering in the RSPB’s communications team are completely different, yet so similar – the bottom line being conservation, conservation, conservation. The past year, I have not only had the closest nature experiences of my life, but have learnt why conserving our wildlife really is so important.

Training to be an ecologist requires a large amount of field work – something…

Blogger - Agnes Rothon

The good news is that another creature, the glow worm, has decided to call RSPB Lakenheath Fen nature reserve its home. My first experience of glow worms came when reading Roald Dahl’s classic novel James and the Giant Peach as a boy - one of the creatures that James shares his epic journey in the peach with is a glow worm.  I learnt from the book that they are curious creatures – perhaps…

When i was a young girl, my summer holidays were longed for. We would dream about those hot summer days in the depths of winter and when they finally came round, the freedom was overwhelming. No school for 6 weeks! Only now that i’m an adult does it dawn on me how tough summer holidays can be for parents. Juggling your annual leave, asking favours from relatives, and what on earth do you do when it’s raining?!…

With 70% of the UK farmed, farmland is of pivotal importance for our wildlife and we need wildlife friendly farmers to give nature a home, Nicholas tells us how he runs a successful farm business whilst providing important habitats for birds, insects and flowers.

As I sat down with my wife, Anne, for supper last Saturday, I realised what a special day I’d had. I had been out checking Tree Sparrow nest boxes with my…

Blogger: Adam Murray, Communications Officer (Marketing & Brand)

This is a little view into my world, it is my own personal experience of my natural family man's way of life. It may not be the norm but may resonate with some of you. If it does then please forward this on to your friends. Thanks and enjoy relaxing days.

The Natural Family Man

i-phone in hand

his and hers converse trainers

fat face gilet…

Blogger - Erica Howe

It’s amazing what you can do with a little imagination. We’ve been asking you all to help us give nature a home this summer and you have told us some wonderful stories including this one from my colleague Rich. He is a pretty inspiring chap if i do say so myself. He has the pleasure of working on one of the RSPB newest nature reserves, Sutton Fen. Sutton Fen is buzzing - literally. The meadows are…

Blogger: Gena Correale-Wardle, Senior Community Fundraiser

A few weeks ago my boyfriend and I had a wonderful time camping on the coast. The weather was sunshine and showers with enough wind to make us feel like our little tent might spiral off into the sky and end up in the Land of Oz. It was a weekend with a little bit of magic in the air, a feeling of anything being possible.

This was never so true as our walk on…

Since I was 15 years old I have been a volunteer – you name it, I've done it (almost). From helping toads cross the road, assisting Guide Dog training, to health-checking cattle, I have spent much of the last 4 years helping animals as a volunteer. Although sometimes hard work, dirty and smelly, there is something I love about volunteering.

With the prospect of a very empty looking 4 month summer break, emailing…

Blogger - Agnes Rothon

The tea party I went to last week was one of the most civilized affairs I have been to for a long time (how often does the parent of a young child get to sit and chat and flick through wildflower books?). Even better, it also managed to feel wonderfully like stepping back to wilder times. As we arrived, a flock of tousled children were chasing each other through waist-high grass from which ox-eye…

Life is full of small, good deeds. I’m a firm believer that it’s the small things that genuinely make a big difference; A smile to a stranger. A cup of tea for your best friend. A packed lunch for your loved one. It’s these little details that might just turn your mundane Monday morning into a much brighter one.  But they often get overlooked, underestimated. Every single day offers a new opportunity…

Blogger: Kerry Davis, Project Officer

“So what do you do?”  I was asked the other day; “I’m a Project Officer with the RSPB.” “What’s one of them then?” is the normal response.  I thought about this on the drive back from Lincoln last Sunday night. I had spent the weekend at Lincoln Cathedral manning the Lincoln Peregrines Date with Nature viewpoint, one of my roles as…

Blogger: Jane Warren, Green Team member

Can you imagine cycling for nearly 5 hours over 91 miles to get to work in the morning? Our colleagues Mark and Jen Smart not only dreamed up the idea, but actually completed this epic journey last Wednesday. Their feat was part of Samsung Bike Week, which ran from 15 to 23 June. It is one of the UK’s biggest cycling events, encouraging over half a million people to join in,…

Blogger: Sarah Green, Project Coordinator - Natura People Partnership Project

We are delighted to welcome George East as Minsmere’s newest corporate member.  Based just 4 miles away in Leiston, George East import and distribute a wide range of houseware, cleaning and personal care and hair care products.  One of their key lines is the Tala cooking range, where you can buy all sorts of traditionally made products…

Blogger - Aggie Rothon

We set out in a rush to take the dog for a walk this morning. Time had run away with us and my little boy hadn’t even strapped his school shoes on when we left the house. I gave him a piggy back instead and he chattered away in my ear as we strode out towards the field. It was a relief to realise that, on stepping outside, the urgency of the school run had dissipated and the morning was all to…

We turned the corner and saw the snaking queue of caravans, estate cars and some very exasperated passengers. Vehicles piled with bedding, camping gear and toys, and windows wound down to relieve the stuffy heat pouring into the cars. This was a typical bank holiday Monday travel nightmare! And we were right in the middle of it.

Creeping along the single carriageway was not the way i had intended on spending the last…

Blogger: Gena Correale-Wardle, Senior Community Fundraiser

Have you seen our RSPB pin badge boxes in your local area? The little green boxes perch on counters in garden centres, coffee shops, hotels and pubs, proudly displaying their lovely enamel wares. For the suggested donation of £1 you can be the proud owner of one of over 50 current badge designs from tawny owl to killer whales.

These fabulous little badges…

Blogger: Rachael Murray, Project Officer

I’m off on holiday to Turkey next week, and ever since I passed that tantalisingly irreversible milestone of booking my flight, I have been pondering what I will wear on my ‘tropical’ adventure. With blue skies and wall to wall sunshine in mind, my list consisted of tiny vest tops, shorts and flip flops...bliss!

So, imagine my dismay when the day came to check…

Blogger: Phil Pearson, Conservation Officer

Hintlesham Woods, one of the largest blocks of ancient woodland in Suffolk and part of the RSPB’s Wolves Wood Reserve, has received considerable attention over the past twelve to eighteen months. The reason is this: despite it being a nationally important Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for the trees, plants and birds that it supports, National Grid were exploring…

Yesterday evening I suddenly became irritated. Lying on the sofa surfing through TV channels finding nothing I wanted to watch, I suddenly became aware of the mess. The children’s toys scattered across the floor, the geranium leaves and crumbs of compost on the floor, the cobwebs in the corners of the room. Previously unaware of the growing chaos around me, I decided at that moment to spring clean.

I can proudly…

Blog by Tara Proud, RSPB Species Recovery Officer

Each spring thousands of migrant birds cross Malta on their way to breeding grounds in Europe, and some of them even choose the UK as their summer home. In Malta, hunting birds is a cultural tradition, and although there are laws in place to govern when shooting can be carried out, a huge amount of protected birds are illegally killed.

Our partners at BirdLife Malta are…

Blogger: Kerry Davis, Lincoln Peregrines Project Manager

I am not a natural birder.  My favourite cry is “what’s that?” – I have progressed from sparrow, blackbird to smew and little egret  in the 9 months since I joined the RSPB.   

With this in mind, I owe a thank you to the Lincoln local group since they have answered my naive questions on the mating rituals, gestation and fledging of peregrines…

Blogger: Jon Haw, Reserves Manager

Got a question for us then give us a shout either here on our blog or find us on Twitter or Facebook under RSPBintheEast. The other day we had this inquiry from Tina:

Can anyone help with a question?

I have a bird box on the side of my house with a camera set up inside. I had blue tit's going in and out last year and they started to build, but then abandoned it so I cleaned it out…

Roll up Roll up! There are only two weeks left to buy tickets for an exclusive concert  in the heart of Suffolk.

To be held in the prestigious Snape Maltings Concert Hall and its beautiful surroundings, the concert will take place on 27 April and is run in conjunction with the RSPB.

Suffolk is synonomous with wild landscapes and thriving wildlife. With RSPB’s flagship nature reserve nestled on the coastline, visitors…

Blogger: Rachael Murray, Project Officer

As you will no doubt be aware following months of high profile press coverage,  HMV, the UK's last surviving national music retailer, collapsed in January after months of financial crisis.

Today, national media the world over are giving prime media space to the announcement that HMV has been thrown a lifeline.  International restructuring specialist, Hilco, are swooping in…