The year 2020 has been far from what many of us surely imagined it would be. Laura is back to give her view on how lockdown momentarily converted so many of us into nature loving enthusiasts and how important it is that we don’t let this slide as we return to some sense of normality. This blog highlights the opportunities for conservation despite the presence of a worldwide pandemic and what RSPB’s Revive Our World campaign is doing to secure a green recovery from Covid19.

Back in March, at the beginning of what has become the defining feature of 2020, I unknowingly spent my last day at Strumpshaw Fen and wouldn’t return for a good four months.  After a mix of working from home and then being furloughed, I came back mid July to a much missed but very different Strumpshaw Fen.

Because of Covid19, we have had to change so much of how we work, how we socialise and how we learn, but what has changed in the natural world? As the world started to move into lockdown, there were many stories of wildlife moving into our cities, towns and waterways; making a home in the places we used to do life in. But what impacts did this strange period actually have on nature? A study by a UK lead team have been looking into just that and have found both positives and negatives of the lockdown on wildlife.

With us confined to our homes, our wildlife seemed to thrive. But the study suggests that for some species such as gulls, foxes and rats, which have over the years become dependent on the scraps of waste food we leave behind; they might have been worse off during the lockdown. It also highlights the issues of the increased usage of local green spaces on the wildlife that live in those spaces. With the article quite a complex read, the BBC has taken this in-depth study and have summarised it here.

It is very hard to know the exact extent of the change to our wildlife during this lockdown period, particularly because there was very little opportunity for any form of wildlife survey or study. This was particularly so for us here at Strumpshaw Fen. Site Manager Tim explained to me how we really don’t have any data on our most important species. On a brighter note, he also suggested that our marsh harriers were spending more time out and about around trails, during the time the reserve was closed to visitors.

During lockdown I was so pleased to see the nation really utilising their local green spaces and was blown away by the enthusiasm by visitors to return to our reserve once it re-opened. It is heart-warming to see a country more clued-in to our wildlife and our environment and it would be such a shame to lose all of this. So, lets continue to do our bit to help give nature a home. You can find several ways you can help on the RSPB website. On a national scale however, this is a bit more complicated. Our government will be wanting to boost this country’s economy and get us back on our feet as we transition out of lockdown. Which of course, is important, but here at the RSPB we want that to be done in a way that doesn’t have detrimental impacts on nature. This is where the RSPB Revive Our World campaign steps in.  In combination with other goals, it aims to push for a green economic recovery from Covid19. 

You can start helping to #ReviveOurWorld by joining the campaign here.


Please tune back in for more Revive Our World information in the ‘E for Everyone’ blog in a couple of weeks time. There, I will go into more detail about the campaign and how each and everyone one of you can help to be part of a UK wide push to improve the current climate and biodiversity crisis. We need your help to remind our government that nature is important and in need of immediate protection. In the meantime, don’t stop giving nature a home in your local areas and remember to look out for the next A-Z blog where we celebrate some of Strumpshaw’s most ‘Dedicated Volunteers’.  

To keep up-to-date with all of the latest Strumpshaw Fen news, visit:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RSPBStrumpshaw

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RSPB_Strumpshaw

Website: https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/strumpshaw-fen/