RSPB England

Tom Lancaster, RSPB Head of UK Land and Seas Policy describes a crucial vote in the parliament on the future of food and farming standards ... 

A right royal bunfight has developed over British food and farming standards, and whether the UK Government is going to stand by them in future trade deal negotiations.

On Monday 12^th October, MPs will vote on changes to the Agriculture Bill made by the House of Lords. These changes…

It’s getting colder, darker and damper outside, and for many of us, the weather outside leaves us wanting to wrap up in our duvets and enjoy a night indoors - but what about the world outside? RSPB England’s, Becca Smith, takes a look at what’s out there to discover this October.

There’s plenty going on in the natural world, whether it’s some of our garden favourites readying themselves for hibernation…

This grouse moor peat burning season, RSPB Senior Conservation Officer Pat Thompson describes why this is a bad for the environment, and why it must stop ... 

The moors and hills of Northern England are very special places – the North and South Pennines, the North York Moors, Bowland Fells, the Lake District High Fells. They are home to an amazing array of wildlife, which depends on the subtle mix of upland 'moorland' habitats…

With urgent action needed to tackle the climate emergency, we need everyone to make their voice heard for our Revive Our World campaign. 

Last week saw the launch of the RSPB’s Revive Our World campaign. This is our response to the news that the UK may have met as few as just three of the 20 international targets for the recovery of nature that we agreed to a decade ago.  As I blogged at the time,  this total failure…

The UN today publishes its Global Biodiversity Outlook 5. The news is not good. Nature is declining and many consider we are now in the sixth mass extinction. According to State of Nature (2019) here in the UK 41% of species are in decline and 133 species have been lost from our shores completely since 1950. In this most comprehensive assessment of nature in the UK, scientists looked at almost 8,500 species, finding that over one…

Wildlife photographer and conservationist, Sussex_Sara shares her insight into some of the special species she watches out for on autumn migration.

 The spotted flycatcher is a summer visitor. Credit: Sussex Sara

As berries fill our bushes and leaves start to turn, it's clear that autumn is creeping closer. Where I live in Sussex, it's one of my favourite times of year to go wildlife watching.

Thousands of birds…

As the nights become colder and we say hello to autumn, RSPB England's, Oriole Wagstaff reveals some great days out in nature this September. 

Whether you’re desperate to get out and explore or are searching for something a little closer to home, there is plenty to enjoy in nature this month.

First up, welcome some waders

September is one of the best months to spot an array of unusual birds that are travelling…

RSPB England is encouraging people to speak up for nature by giving their views on the England Tree Strategy

Credit: Sherwood Forest by Stephen Morgan

The Government is consulting on an England Tree Strategy. This is a much-needed opportunity for you to share your views on how pledges for more trees and woodland can deliver for people, nature and climate. Expansion of tree and woodland cover in England is needed, and can…

Yesterday, the UK Government launched their Planning for the future White Paper, outlining dramatic reform of England’s planning system.  Make no mistake: this was a big moment for your wildlife and the places for nature that matter to all of us... 

The planning system plays an important role in protecting and even restoring species and habitats.  With the nature and climate emergencies looming large, yesterday’s proposals…

RSPB England Communications Officer, Sydney Henderson, delves into the world of badger watching, on her own quest to see a badger…

I want to see a badger. For many people, the badger is the quintessential British mammal. In children’s bedtime stories, they are often written about as human-like characters, (known as anthropomorphism) meaning I grew up with the idea of badgers as a friendly neighbour, a kind of art…

RSPB England director Emma Marsh reviews the recent appointments to the boards that run England’s National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Image: Golden eagle, one of many species that have become extinct in the Lake District. This stunning raptor became extinct in the Lakes in 2015 as we reported here.

This week Westminster Government missed a golden opportunity in its appointments to the boards…

The EU LIFE-funded Little Tern Recovery Project has helped turn the tide for little tern populations. Communications Officer, Sydney Henderson, reflects on the success of the project and why the work is by no means complete.  

The weight of a tennis ball. 

A picky eater. 

A courtship proposal in the shape of a fish.

The scientific name, Sternula albifrons describes the distinctive white forehead, with albus, "white", and "frons…

With over one million members, staff, volunteers and supporters, the RSPB encompasses a wide range of views and people. It’s important to recognise the value of difference as well as better reflecting the communities in which we work. In this blog, the RSPB’s LGBTQIA+ group, the Starlings, reflect on this year’s Pride celebrations and why nature needs us all.

In previous years the RSPB Starlings have…

Puffins are back on land and breeding, but they’re only around for a short while each year! Read more about these comical seabirds and where to see them with RSPB England’s Lucy Hodson…

Sea clowns, sea parrots or just plain and simple puffins – these colourful, characterful birds seem to capture hearts and minds wherever we encounter them.

We only have a relatively narrow window in which to…

 If you have enjoyed watching the beavers in Cornwall on Springwatch, you can read more about them in this blog by Heather Devey, Project Officer with the Cumbria Beaver Group. Below, Jane Sears, RSPB’s Species Lead for Beaver, and Jen Smart, Head of Species for England, describe how RSPB is working towards a return of beavers to more English waterways.

2020 is a key year for the future of beavers in England. Beavers…

RSPB England's, Beth Markey, explores one of the more unusual side of nature...

Red admiral by Chris Gomersall

If you could choose to taste with any part of your body, your feet would probably be last on your list, right? We can’t imagine that clammy socks and floor tiles have anything on a mouth-watering chilli con carne.

But for some animals, tasting with body parts other than a tongue gives them a distinct…

You may be familiar with dandelions and daisies but, with over 1600 types of wildflower in the UK, how many can you identify? RSPB England’s Oriole Wagstaff looks at the importance of wildflowers and provides some tips to help you identify a few of our most common wildflowers. 

Over the past few months, like many people, you may have found comfort in the nature around you.  Perhaps noticing brightly coloured flowers fighting through pav…

RSPB England Communications Officer, Becca Smith, takes a look at our top nature and wildlife books, not just to inspire you with our natural world, but perhaps to keep the little ones entertained too!

Recent events may have left you thinking about the next book you’ll be picking up as you seek an escape from the outside world. The nature outside has somewhat refused to be ignored in recent weeks however, with spring…

Photo credit: Ray Kennedy

RSPB calls on England’s City and Metro Mayors to protect and invest in nature as part of green recovery. Please scroll to the bottom of the page to ask your mayor to put nature at the heart of recovery plans via our online action.

New figures released by the RSPB reveal...

• Overwhelming public support for investing in nature as part of plans for recovery from Coronavirus crisis;
• Strong public opposition…

On World Ocean Day, RSPB England's Pete Exley explores the amazing lives of some of our most loved seabirds, and explains why these creatures matter

Will the real puffin please step forward?

Say the word “puffin”, and most people will conjure up an image of a plump dumpy bird with a comical over-sized multi-coloured bill.  Puffins are perhaps one of our most familiar birds, to be found on tea towels, mugs…

To celebrate National Volunteers’ Week, RSPB England's Oriole Wagstaff looks at how volunteering is building confidence and saving some of our rarest wildlife at RSPB Dungeness (and why marsh mallow are key to this!)

When you think about marsh mallows and volunteers, you might imagine toasting sweets on a bonfire. But, in this case, it’s all about a rare moth and the two volunteers who are striving to save it…

New infrastructure projects are likely to be a major component of our economic recovery post-Covid. Done well, they can leave nature and communities better than they were before. But when done badly, the damage can scar wildlife, people and places for generations. 

The RSPB engages with infrastructure projects likely to impact nature, and draws on decades of experience to advise how best to minimise damage and maximise…

Hello there my name is Indy, I am 14 years old. For the past year since the RSPB took over management and the new centre opened, I’ve been volunteering with the RSPB in the magical Sherwood Forest and beautiful Budby South Forest.

When I first started at Sherwood I was part of the Welcome Team in the Visitor centre. It felt like I was starting at a new school as I was quite nervous. I didn’t need to be as it was…

Britain’s largest fish is back for the summer. RSPB England’s Beth Markey gives the low down on these widely misunderstood gentle giants

One of our favourite seasonal visitors, the basking shark, is back in UK waters for the summer.

As mysterious as they are colossal, basking sharks are famed globally for their unique appearance and elusive behaviour. And it’s not really hard to see why. Basking sharks…

RSPB and Sizewell C 

With final plans submitted for a new nuclear power plant next to our much loved Minsmere reserve, we look at what this means for globally threatened nature and why we’re making a stand to #LoveMinsmere. 

What is Sizewell C? 

EDF Energy have just submitted their final proposals to build a new twin nuclear reactor, Sizewell C, on their Sizewell Estate on the Suffolk coast. If given the go-ahead, the con…