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…

It’s often noted that humanity simply would not survive without bees. But how true is this? RSPB England’s Beth Markey answers this and all your other burning questions on bees.

Most of us know bees as fuzzy, charming little chaps that live in hives and grant us with endless supplies of honey. But there’s much more to these winged invertebrates than meets the eye - from their invaluable role in keeping the…

RSPB England's Lucy Hodson explores why locking away the lawnmower is the best thing you can do for your garden and the environment. 

Why a messy garden can be good for wildlife

Take half an hour on a sunny day in early summer. Just sit in your garden, and watch. Before long, you’ll notice the thrumming rhythm of life. Hoverflies, bees and butterflies bustle around flowers. Beetles, spiders and bugs rumble through the…

On World Migratory Bird Day, RSPB England's Lucy Hodson explores the fantastic feats undertaken by migratory species as they traverse the skies to and from their summer and winter grounds.

It starts with a single scream. You see it, high above, a crescent moon silhouette circling. They’re back!

The moment our swifts return to the skies is often heralded as the start of summer. These iconic birds are one of many…

Today Natural England has published the licences for taking peregrine falcons for falconry. We are meeting with the agency tomorrow [7 May] to discuss this but we have serious doubt as to the justification for granting these licences. The RSPB’s Senior Investigations Officer, Guy Shorrock, describes the historical background to this ... 

The recent decision announced by Natural England (NE) to allow three people to…

The UK is home to a surprising amount of ground-nesting birds, with some of our most common species choosing to make their homes nearer the ground rather than in trees. In your garden, you may have come across a robin’s nest tucked under bushes or taking advantage of the shelter provided by your garden plant pots.

Out in the wider countryside, there are lot of other ground-nesting species too and these are often…

Jess Chappell , RSPB Senior Policy Officer in England, writes about the West Midlands Combined Authority recovery action plan and how a green economic recovery from coronavirus is absolutely essential if we are to “recover better”

It’s impossible to miss the role that nature is playing in providing a source of comfort and relief for so many during this difficult time. This comes as no surprise – a thriving…

The nation may be in lockdown, but the birds’ breeding season doesn’t stop for anything and neither, apparently, do HS2 Ltd and their contractors.

Colin Wilkinson, Senior Conservation Officer for RSPB shares the latest on HS2 ... 

At Broadwells Wood in Warwickshire, HS2 Ltd’s contractors are continuing to clear ancient woodland at the worst possible time of year. It’s technically legal, but against all…

Is nature bouncing back in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis? And will the lockdown hinder conservation efforts? RSPB England's Sara Humphrey explores the facts and the fiction behind many of the headlines. 

As humans stay home to flatten the curve of Covid-19, millions of people have been amazed and uplifted by the nature they can see from their homes and while locally exercising. As a result, we are getting a lot of…

The RSPB's Rupert Masefield describes how nature might thrive alongside development ... 

Three years ago, I put up a new nest box in our tiny terrace garden. By the start of this year it had sat empty for so long I’d nearly given up on it. Then, just as I was beginning to wonder if I should put up a “derelict” sign, a pair of blue tits finally decided to move in this spring. Last week the chicks hatched, and the coming…

As we observe nature from our windows and through our gardens more than ever during times like these, RSPB England’s Communications Officer, Becca Smith, discusses; “how can the garden benefit my mental health?”

In recent weeks, many of us will have found ourselves stressed or anxious, but a glance outside our window, a feeling of the sun on our backs, or a breath of fresh air can help to ease our minds…

Michael Coplestone is RSPB England's Head of Land, and absolutely WILD about wildlife. 

Join Michael, his eager little helper, Hannah, and his butterfly net as they answer all your wildlife questions, including:

• What are some good nature-based activities for under-5's?
• What are the best RSPB reserves to see butterflies?
• Why are birds pecking on my roof?
• How can I learn birdsong?
• Is it illegal to trim hedges during…

RSPB England's Lucy Hodson explores the differences between the two very similar-looking species.

What's the difference between a moth and a butterfly? It’s a common question, but how many of us know the answer?

The time of day? You might think it’s obvious – moths come out at night, and butterflies in the day.
Unfortunately, this isn’t as clear cut as it seems – some amazing moths, like the…

To celebrate World Curlew Day, RSPB England looks to the North Pennines for this week’s blog, where we have been working with volunteers and farmers to monitor threatened wading birds like curlew over the past few years. With our monitoring halted for the time being, Chris Jones reflects on our learnings and looks ahead to the future.

Photo credit: Dave Morris

At the end of January, Chris Jones started his role…

The RSPB's Mike Shurmer gives the low down on how to get the most out of a garden bug hunt. Get ready, get set, go...

Surveying insects can be an expensive business, with entomologists often spending hundreds of pounds on specialist equipment like moth traps, sweep nets and vacuum samplers. It can all be a bit daunting! But it is possible to find plenty of insects and other invertebrates in your garden with a few simple…

The RSPB's Mike Shurmer describes his top five garden bugs to spot this month ... how many can you find? 

From the largest rural garden to the smallest urban green space, our gardens provide homes for many insects throughout the year. These insects play a beneficial role for us - they pollinate flowers, provide natural pest control and recycle organic matter. At a time when our gardens, no matter how small, are providing…

Luke Phillips is RSPB England's Direct Marketing Manager who spends much of his spare time exploring the fascinating world of moths.

Join Luke as he delves into his moth trap and uncovers the species lurking within.

www.youtube.com/watch

Chris Dieck is an Ecology Supervisor for RSPB England with a passion for British bats. Chris spends much of his professional and personal life working to understand more about the behaviour of these fascinating creatures. 

We asked the public to indulge their curiosities and send in their British bat-related questions for Chris to answer. These included:

• What are the best ways to entice bats into your garden?
• How can we distinguish…

The RSPB's Lee Schofield describes the RSPB's restoration of the Swindale Beck in Cumbria ... 

The rivers of the UK have been very badly treated. Whether it be dredging, straightening, embanking, over-abstraction, or pollution, and there are precious few that exist in an unmolested state. Tristan Gooley, explorer and author of How to Read Water, has a useful rule of thumb. He says that if you see a river that runs straight…