(Article from the EDP Saturday March 16th)
Who’s your wildlife hero? David Attenborough? Michaela Strachan? Skippy the Bush Kangaroo?
Image by Eleanor Bentall (rspb-images.com)
Mine’s a little closer to home. She’s a wildlife heroine and she’s my mum. I went to visit my parents last weekend (Mother’s Day was on Sunday 10th, in case you’d forgotten) and spending time in my family home made me realise just how much I have to thank my mum for my love of nature. Ok, so she hasn’t single-handedly saved a species from extinction or chained herself to any trees (that I’m aware of), but she does little things every day that make her small part of the world better for wildlife. Alongside working and taking care of the family she finds time to fill the bird feeders every morning. She‘s slightly obsessive about things being neat (she has the neatest airing cupboard you’ll ever see) but she’s planted a wildlife friendly garden and keeps it untidy for the wildlife that calls it home; because that’s the way they like it. She buys free range everything. She composts and recycles and is a member of the RSPB.
Flatford Wildlife Garden in Suffolk
So what, you’re thinking? Anyone could do those things. Well exactly; anyone could, but not everyone does!
I’m a staunch believer that we all have the potential to make a big difference in the world. Apathy is the degenerate disease of the 21st Century because there are some big problems out there. Sometimes they feel so big that it’s easier to say “there’s nothing I can do” than “I can make a difference”. If any of you have seen or read Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell you’ll recognise this quote. “My life amounts to no more than one drop in a limitless ocean. Yet what is any ocean, but a multitude of drops?”
Titchwell beach by Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)
My mum takes small steps for nature. She inspired me to do the same. Perhaps reading this will inspire you to take a step for nature as well. Little things add up to a big difference, it’s easy to get started and I promise you’ll love the feeling it brings. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Get outdoors this weekend, reconnect to nature and remind yourself of why it’s worth taking those little steps. You can use one of our Great Escape vouchers (find us on Twitter or Facebook at ‘RSPB in the East’ to download one for free) to visit a beautiful RSPB nature reserve near you. Want to do something more? Support the work of the RSPB through membership at www.rspb.org.uk/join or volunteer with us. More a stay-at-home type? Make your garden a wildlife haven with Homes for Wildlife at www.rspb.org.uk/hfw.
Whatever you do just remember: together we can make a difference.