• Hen Harriers and brood management, where should we go from here?

    Male Hen harrier in flight (C) Pete Morris (rspb-images.com) Today's blog is written by Mike Shurmer, Head of Species for RSPB England. He reflects on the learning from the brood management trial. In spring in the English uplands, male Hen Harriers a...
    • 30 Nov 2023
  • A COP like no other

    Global day of action COP26 Climate Summit Glasgow 2021 (C) Nick Hawkes (rspb-images.com) The RSPB’s Melanie Coath and Alex Mackaness are attending COP28 in Dubai where they will be pushing for ambitious outcomes for nature and climate in the UN...
    • 29 Nov 2023
  • The Birdcrime report exposes the relentless persecution of Birds of prey across the UK

    Female Hen Harrier in flight (c) Pete Morris Todays Blog is written by Heather Mathieson, Investigations Liaison Officer, she outlines the findings of the latest Birdcrime report and the criminal persecution which our birds of prey con...
    • 24 Nov 2023
  • Will the Autumn Statement make good our debt to nature?

    Image credit RSPB Arne Dorset,  Sam Turley(rspb-images.com) Today's blog is written by William Riley, the RSPB's Senior Economist. He reflects that England was one of the first countries in the world to set legally binding biod...
    • 20 Nov 2023
  • Have your say on banning lead ammunition

    Whooper Swan Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com) This special blog is written by Imogen Taylor, Senior Policy Officer to highlight the opportunity to have your say on the latest consultation on banning lead ammunition.  We have been talking about ...
    • 18 Nov 2023
  • Driven Shooting in the Uplands – still reason to grouse?

    Last June we published our Time for Change report setting out why we believe driven grouse shooting needs to be licensed to create thriving uplands for all and to tackle the scourge of raptor persecution. Here, we revisit why we think licensing is the most pragmatic option, reflect on our ongoing concerns with the most intensive form of grouse shooting, namely driven shooting and associated management practices, and consider…
    • 17 Nov 2023
  • Make Seabirds Count: A Call to Action

    Seabirds in the UK are in crisis. The Seabird Census (2015-2021) is a comprehensive survey of 25 breeding seabirds species in the British Isles. The survey is led by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) with input and support from other partner organisations, including the RSPB.
    • 16 Nov 2023
  • No smoke without fire – small steps toward a better future for England’s upland peatlands

    Burning on Mid Hope Moors Peak District (C) Tim Melling Todays Blog is written by Pat Thompson, Senior Policy Officer for the uplands. He outlines the impacts of burning on our upland habitats and how you can help prevent it.  The beginning of ...
    • 1 Nov 2023
  • 30 by 30: will Governments deliver the step change nature needs?

    Bearded tit at RSPB Minsmere Nature Reserve, a SSSI which is in good condition. Ben Andrews (RSPB-images.com) In today’s blog, Senior Policy Officer Meriel Harrison, explains what is meant by '30 by30' , what progress has been made toward...
    • 30 Oct 2023
  • Lead ammunition in the firing line

    The RSPB has been calling for a ban on the sale and use of lead ammunition for many years now. A ban on lead ammunition has been decades coming and is long overdue – each year, thousands of tonnes of lead shotgun pellets are used and dispersed into the environment. This is taking an unacceptable toll on wildlife, so we won’t stop fighting for a complete ban.
    • 24 Oct 2023
  • Making our land work for nature, climate and people

    UK land is currently under a lot of pressure. How do we ensure that we are doing the right things in the right places, in a way that is good for nature, climate, and for people? A new RSPB-led study, being published later today, explores some of the likely consequences of changing UK land use to meet greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for nature recovery and agricultural output.
    • 20 Oct 2023
  • Setting the standard for sustainable forest management in a nature and climate emergency

    The UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) sets out the approach to sustainable forestry. The latest (5th), version has just been published, 25 years after the original. This blog considers how it has changed and whether it ensures UK forest management contributes to a nature positive, net zero future
    • 17 Oct 2023
  • RSPB calls for the release of non-native gamebirds to be licensed

    The rear and release of non-native gamebirds is widespread across all parts of the UK, in varying degrees of intensity. According to latest estimates, 40.6 million gamebirds are annually released into the UK countryside. After careful consideration of the alternatives and an assessment of progress to date, the RSPB is calling for governments across the UK to license the release of non-native gamebirds, underpinned by…
    • 14 Oct 2023
  • Gamebird Shooting: A Review of Progress

    Red grouse – asset ID 2104999, Louise Greenhorn (rspb-images.com) This blog is written by Jeff Knott Head of Policy and Advocacy at RSPB. As the 2023/24 gamebird shooting season is now underway, we felt it would be timely to publish a series o...
    • 10 Oct 2023
  • Why environmental markets desperately need government intervention

    The newly published State of Nature Report highlights that our nature continues to decline in the United Kingdom . On the back of our response to a call for evidence by the Parliamentary Environmental Audit Committee, we outline the role of environmental markets in tackling these declines and securing UK nature’s future.
    • 5 Oct 2023
  • Black History Month: trailblazers for change

    Todays blog is written by Sy Joshua, Senior Race Equity Specialist.   Black History Month, celebrated throughout October in the UK, is a time to honour and acknowledge the historical contributions and achievements of Black individuals and c...
    • 2 Oct 2023
  • Without nutrient neutrality we would be up the creek without a paddle

    It’s no secret that our rivers, lakes and estuaries are not in a good way. Government’s own data show that just 14% of them are up to scratch ecologically. Raw sewage spills get all the publicity, but even these account for just 1-in-20 of known reasons for failure.
    • 23 Aug 2023
  • Why Policy Matters: Playing the man not the ball

    In today's Why Policy Matters blog, Jeff Knott, RSPB Director of Policy and Advocacy, writes on the need for the political and media spotlight to be on the issues, rather than focusing on the those who are raising the flag.
    • 23 Aug 2023
  • Biomass - a burning issue

    Clear cutting in Rapla county, Estonia (C) Karl Adami Todays blog is written by Alex Mackaness, Senior Policy Officer. He reflects on the recent publication of the governments' Biomass Strategy and what it means for nature and the economy. Now the d...
    • 16 Aug 2023
  • Why Policy Matters: Passion is a Superpower

    In the last couple of weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of supporting Hannah Bourne-Taylor in her campaign to make swift bricks mandatory in all new developments. These bricks provide cavities for swifts and other red listed species to nest in, countering the loss of these crevices in many modern buildings. But its not the important conservation message I wanted to talk about today, it’s what Hannah’s efforts might signal…
    • 24 Jul 2023
  • A bittersweet victory for nature restoration across Europe

    Last Wednesday, we held our breath as the big moment finally arrived: the plenary vote in the European Parliament on the EU Nature Restoration Law. Here we unpack the rollercoaster of results!
    • 20 Jul 2023
  • Green Finance - a greenwash on nature?

    In this blog we explore the importance of acting now to safeguard nature and to keep costs down, and question where the finance will come from.
    • 19 Jul 2023
  • Why Policy Matters: Nice news for NACES – better protection beneath the waves

    The ocean is vast. Covering more than 70% of the earth, the sheer scale of our marine environments can often boggle the mind for land based humans like us. With such huge areas, protecting areas for wildlife need to be just as large, to make sure they are effective at delivering for our threatened ocean going species.
    • 10 Jul 2023
  • Why business has a crucial role in helping to save nature

    As the RSPB's Head of Business Conservation Advice, I know that businesses have a critical role to play in protecting nature. After all, businesses operate in the natural world and their activities can have a significant impact on the environment. At the last World Economic Forum, six out of the top ten business risks were identified as environment and climate risks – so businesses can and must play a critical role in…
    • 7 Jul 2023
  • HPMAs officially designated in England – three jewels for our struggling seas

    Yesterday, the 5th of July, a little revolution took place in our seas. Three sites, Allonby Bay, North East of Farnes Deep and Dolphin Head were officially designated as Highly Protected Marine Areas in England. This means that they now benefit from the highest level of protection in our seas, the first three sites in the UK to be under such strict governmental protection.
    • 6 Jul 2023