We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of our patron, Her Majesty The Queen, and offer our heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family.Her Majesty showed unwavering support as the patron of the RSPB, for which we remain hugely grateful. A particular highlight was the reception she hosted at St James’s Palace to celebrate our centenary in 1989. Her role as our patron reflected her dedication to supporting charitable causes and the unstinting devotion to public duty she showed throughout her long reign. Her Majesty was well known for her love of the countryside. Stuart Housden, former Director of RSPB Scotland, recalls her passion for the wildlife and landscapes of Scotland in particular, which she regularly visited. She took a keen interest in how wildlife was faring on the Balmoral Estate in Aberdeenshire and was so delighted to discover a nest of capercaillie chicks while out horse riding one day that she asked for Stuart to be informed. She also sought advice on how management of the estate could be improved for wildlife, and Stuart was invited by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales to see some of the work that had been undertaken.Her Majesty was acutely aware of the need to restore natural habitats, for the benefit of wildlife, people and the planet, and through numerous tree planting projects, including The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative to mark her Platinum Jubilee, she was instrumental in encouraging conservation efforts across the world. In a speech to launch the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow in 2021, Her Majesty reflected on the scale of the nature and climate emergency and voiced her hope that by “working side by side, we have the ability to solve the most insurmountable problems and triumph over the greatest of adversities”. She also spoke of her pride that the baton of environmental protection had been passed on to her son HRH The Prince of Wales and grandson HRH The Duke of Cambridge, and we have no doubt that they will continue her legacy, just as we will continue our work to create a world richer in nature.We offer our sincere thanks for her unstinting support for our cause.Beccy
The North Kent Marshes are a very special area and worth preserving at all cost.