Back in May a bold partnership of UK conservation organisations published the State of Nature report. It's a stark portrait of the state of our nation’s wildlife and ecosystems: in the last 50 years a frightening 60% of monitored species have declined, over half of them substantially, while one in ten is threatened with extinction.
To start reversing the widespread declines the State of Nature report has highlighted, we need everyone’s help to give nature a home across the country. Many of the creatures in serious danger are your once familiar, much-loved garden inhabitants – hedgehogs, butterflies, and birds that used to be common like house sparrows and swifts.
That’s why we’ve launched our Giving Nature a Home campaign, helping you welcome a rich variety of wildlife into your gardens so that they have the space, food and shelter they need to thrive again. Our website offers lots of simple ideas you can carry out whether you’ve got a hanging basket, balcony, courtyard or (lucky you) a big garden to work with.
Image: Eleanor Bentall (rspb-images.com)
You’ll see from our Fen Drayton Lakes events programme that over August we’ll be sharing some ideas on the reserve each weekend too – tips on wildlife gardening, how to make a butterfly feeder, building bee homes and more. Do come along to see us and pick up your free Giving Nature a Home guide.
Alison Nimmo
RSPB Community Engagement Officer, Orkney