RSPB England

Nature as a solution

Melanie Coath, RSPB Senior Policy Officer, responds to the Committee for Climate Change report on land use published today, and its relevance to England …

The Committee for Climate Change report on land use published today is a timely reminder of the crucial role our land has in meeting the challenges of the climate and ecological emergency.  If we are going to have any chance of achieving net…

RSPB England’s Becca Smith shares a few top tips for distinguishing some common garden birds, ahead of the Big Garden Birdwatch running from the 25^th-27^th January.

With many a bird identification question coming to us here at the RSPB on a daily basis, our busiest time of year is unsurprisingly during the Big Garden Birdwatch; a weekend when half a million of the nation’s eyes are turned to their gardens and green…

The RSPB’s Tony Whitehead describes some recent news on seabird conservation in England …  

The UK is a hugely important place for seabirds, as one might imagine given our wholly maritime position. Around our coasts nest a staggering eight million birds of a wonderful variety, from the ever-popular diminutive puffins to the world’s largest gull, the great black backed. Each has its niche, in an orderly arrangement…

Back from the Brink is a National Lottery funded project that aims to save 20 species from extinction and benefit over 200 more through 19 projects across England. Along with the Yorkshire Wildlife Trusts, the RSPB is working to safeguard the future of willow tits. 

Willow tit Project Officer, Sophie Pinder, explains why the willow tit has become so threatened and how we’re working to restore habitat in the Dearne Valley…

The RSPB’s Tony Whitehead considers a new Wildlife Trusts Report published today that details the effects of HS2 on nature … 

‘What’s the damage? Why HS2 will cost nature too much' is a report published by the Wildlife Trusts today that leaves little doubt about the potential impact of HS2 on wildlife. It provides an excellent summary of evidence and supports the idea that this scheme needs a fundamental…

Another decade may be over, but our RSPB England Communications Officer, Becca Smith, is still looking back to celebrate some of our successes over the past ten years .

While the origins of the RSPB lie in the 1880’s, our work today seems to be ever increasing, especially thanks to growing urgency and public support surrounding the world’s climate and ecological crisis. From influencing policy to saving species and managing…

Nick Baker, Naturalist, Author, Broadcaster and RSPB Vice President describes his Big Garden Birdwatch from home in Devon … 
 
Garden birdwatching for most of us is a quick glance out of the window every now and again; while we’ve got our hands in the sink or in my case when something catches my eye when I’m sitting at my desk writing. For example, yesterday a commotion and alarm calls made me lift my head to a…

RSPB Communication's Officer, Lucy Hodson, delves into the garden birds that are the top visitors to English gardens, based on the results of the world's largest wildlife survey - the Big Garden Birdwatch.

Each year in January, thousands of people just like you, give us an hour of their time to tell us about the wildlife visiting gardens and green spaces. The Big Garden Birdwatch has been running since 1979, and…

RSPB England’s, Beth Markey, delves into the history and behaviour of the bittern – a bird that has defied the odds and made its way back into the hearts and minds of bird lovers across the country.

community.rspb.org.uk/.../3326.7444.5810.1513.5658.7416.2100.8272.8032.2626.6431.BITTERN-TRIM-_2D00_-SHORT.mp4

Once numerous across our wetlands, bitterns have overcome enormous hurdles in a seemingly endless battle…

Sydney Henderson, Communications Officer for RSPB England, tells us why robins and Christmas go together ...

This year the first-ever robin migration was tracked, as a tiny nanotag allowed researchers to follow a heroic 140-mile journey across the North Sea. And what better time to reflect on the small-but-mighty robin, than Christmas time. But why are robins associated with Christmas? And just how far back does the tradition…

RSPB England Communications Officer Beth Markey reflects on the findings of a new poll, and suggests things we can all do to help the environment ... 

At a time when nature is under greater threat than ever before, a new poll by the National Lottery has found...

Election fever is upon us.  In a week's time, we will have a new Government and may face further political uncertainty and flux.  But some things are certain – we know we are in the midst of a climate and nature emergency and we need urgent action.  As I blogged recently, the State of Nature 2019 report shows that the decline in nature continues unabated.  Time is running out to secure nature’s recovery and it is essential that…

Voter concern about the natural world has hit its highest level in almost thirty years according to a recent poll, and this increase in public support for the environment should come as no surprise to politicians. More than 7.6 million people worldwide participated in the week of global climate strikes in late September this year, and the UK was no exception, with thousands of people around the country walking out of schools and…

RSPB England Communications Manager Rupert Masefield talks about green growth in England ... 

Nature has catapulted into the forefront of public consciousness in the last couple of years, with issues such as plastic pollution and the climate crisis grabbing headlines and making the environment a key election issue for the first time I can remember (and I’m a millennial – just about).  

The economy and development haven…

Way back in 1979 the European Union, under pressure from the UK Government adopted the Birds Directive. This early piece of environmental legislation required all member states to offer basic protection to wild birds across the continent.  As part of this, each country was asked to designate “Special Protection Areas”; places of importance for breeding, migrating and wintering birds of significant conservation concern…

What a busy few weeks it’s been at Westminster!  Amongst all the Brexit to-ing and fro-ing, on Monday 14^th, a new Parliamentary Session began, complete with a new Queen’s Speech. The speech is a list of proposed new policy and legislation; basically the Government’s to do list for the year. 

We already know that we’re in the midst of a climate and nature crisis.  As I blogged recently, the State of…

Beth Markey, RSPB Communications Officer, describes some of the great autumn spectacles and events on our England nature reserves ... 

Although our feathered friends in sunnier climes might disagree, there’s nothing cosier than the warming autumnal ambience that only comes at this time of the year. The golden shades blanketing the landscape and familiar nip in the morning air; crunchy leaves underfoot and dew-covered spider…

On Monday I went along to the third Annual Awards reception of the MP Species Champions project in Westminster. Our Species Champions are a 59-strong group of MPs from across political parties working to support threatened species, through their roles at Parliament and in their constituencies. Their support is invaluable in our efforts to secure strong laws for nature’s recovery – essential at this time of ecological…

RSPB England Director Emma Marsh describes today's State of Nature Report and what it means for England ...

England contains a range of internationally important habitats, such as its lowland heathland, ancient woodland and chalk grasslands in the south, the blanket bogs along the Pennines, the coastal estuaries and saltmarshes that provide vital foraging habitat for wintering waterbirds, and the sea cliffs and offshore…

The RSPB's England Director, Emma Marsh, sets four key tests for the UK Government’s response to Julian Glover's Landscapes Review 

The beauty of England’s National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) is lost if nature is lost – if curlews have gone or if wildflower meadows have been destroyed. Yet wildlife is vanishing at an alarming rate from these special places. This is the powerful conclusion…

Emma Marsh, RSPB Director England, welcomes the RSPB taking on management of a new site in Staffordshire ... 

I'm delighted to say that the RSPB have taken over the management of Consall Nature Park from Staffordshire County Council this month. Since the mid-1980s the RSPB has owned and managed RSPB Churnet Valley reserve, 100 hectares of broadleaved woodland and grassland adjacent to Consall Nature Park. This reserve…

The RSPB's England Director, Emma Marsh, responds to Julian Glover's Landscapes Review that has just been published by Government ...

“We are living in the beginning of a mass extinction and our climate is breaking down. But we can still fix this – you can still fix this. It’s simple. We need to protect, restore, and fund nature”.

These were the words of Greta Thunberg last week – the same…

Emma Marsh shares her thoughts on the first day in her new job as Director, RSPB England…

Over the past nine months we have been making changes at the RSPB to ensure we are in the best place to save nature. We are always looking at how we can do things better. The work we do, and the external context is constantly changing, and so are the skills and resources needed to respond. 

One of the clear needs we identified…

RSPB’s Morwenna Alldis encourages us to celebrate National Nestbox Week by giving your local birds a home this Spring. It’s National Nestbox Week from 14-21 February, led by the British Trust of Ornithology (BTO). So this month is the per...

For this was on seynt Volantynys day
Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make

(For this was on St. Valentine's Day,
when every bird cometh there to choose his mate)

- Chaucer, Parlement of Foules

In the spirit of Valentines Day, traditionally the first day of bird song and the bird nesting season, RSPB South West are letting nature sing by giving away a free blackbird song audio track. You can download it…