The RSPB Community

Brussels biofuels debate coming to a head

Steven Roddy — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:26:54 GMT

Using food for fuel when millions of people are starving is wrong. The ‘If’ campaign is trying to persuade world leaders to stop using corn and palm oil to produce fuel for cars. But it’s not just people who are suffering because of the global demand for biofuels, nature is too. We’ve written before about two wonderful habitats for rare and endangered birds in East Africa – Dakatcha woodland and the Tana River Delta – and there are terrible examples of deforestation in tropical countries as well. What you may not realise is that the UK’s landscape is also changing and our green and pleasant land is becoming covered in ever more yellow rape-seed oil.

This demand is being driven by a well-intentioned but ill-designed European Union policy aimed at reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. This policy means that governments are giving the biofuels industry subsidies worth billions of pounds a year across Europe. The trouble is that not only do biofuels cause huge problems for fragile ecosystems, they don’t even reduce emissions in the way they’re meant to. More and more, research has revealed that if you grow food or energy crops for fuel, the greenhouse gas emissions can be even greater than using dirty old fossil fuels. This is because every time you change one field from growing food to growing fuel another bit of land somewhere else has to be brought into agricultural production (for example, by clearing an area of forest), and the emissions from doing that wipe out any benefit we might otherwise have seen and trash a vital habitat for wildlife.

The next few months will be crucial as the European Union debates a change to EU biofuels law. We know how to fix this problem in a way that will stop the harm being done to nature and the climate, while still allowing innovative industries to bring new, genuinely beneficial, technologies to the market. Two key parliamentary committees will vote on this issue soon – the Industry Committee on 20 June and the Environment Committee on 10 July.

Here is a list of those UK MEPs who are on these committees and will be able to vote directly: Linda Macavan – Yorkshire and The Humber, Chris Davies – North West, Giles Chichester – South West and Gibraltar, Julie Girling – South West, Fiona Hall – North East.

Even if one of your MEPs is not on the committee they will have a key opportunity to influence the vote by talking to those who are, so we need your help. Please e-mail or write to your MEPs and:

Ask them to support the introduction of ‘factors’ for indirect land use change driven by biofuel production – sound like jargon but it just means a mechanism that takes into account the emissions caused by clearing new areas of land to grow food so we can factor in the full impact of biofuel production;
Ask them to support a strict cap of 5% on the amount of biofuels which can be used to meet our renewable energy targets;
Make sure they know that old-fashioned biofuels which depend on using vast swathes of land, driving deforestation and devastating critical habitats in the UK and across the world should play no part in our long term future plans for energy generation.

You can find out who your MEPs are, and how to contact them on the European Parliament website, or you could use the Write to Them website.

Please let us know if you’ve taken part by commenting on this post or by e-mailing campaigns@rspb.org.uk – we’d also be interested to see any replies you receive.

Thanks for your help!

Give nature a chance in Northern Ireland

Steph — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:02:00 GMT

John Martin and Colum Delaney, Conservation Manager and Policy Advocacy Officer respectively at our Northern Ireland HQ, explain what you can do to help wildlife-friendly farming get the funding it needs.

We know that Northern Ireland’s wildlife is in trouble. The State of Nature report, launched in conjunction with 24 other environmental organisations in late May, painted a worrying picture of declines in a number of species. In particular, farmland birds have been amongst the hardest hit with approximately 50% declines since 1970. Iconic species such as, lapwing, curlew and yellowhammer are amongst the worst hit. Sadly the corncrake is now extinct in NI.

Three quarters of the NI countryside is farmed, meaning farmland makes up a really big part of the environment upon which our wildlife depends. Farming in a way that looks after nature, therefore, is one of the biggest steps we can take to turn around the current situation. We know this works. In east County Down for example, wildlife friendly farmers have helped boost numbers of endangered yellowhammers by a massive 79%, only possible because of important funding made available through N. Ireland’s Rural Development Programme.

This money, which also supports much other investment in our rural economies, comes from EU ‘Rural Development’ funds – a small proportion of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the most important pot of funding available for conservation in the UK. But in the European budget deal agreed earlier this year these funds suffered disproportionate cuts.

Our Government must also step up if we are to collectively turn around the fortunes of our native wildlife - the alternative is a countryside devoid of nature. This would be devastating, not only for farmers and landowners who are privileged to share this space with wildlife, but also for our rural economies that rely on tourism focused on our wonderful natural heritage. Since 2010, the RSPB estimates that approximately £40 million has been cut from the wildlife-friendly farming part of Rural Development funds in N. Ireland. This is very worrying as wildlife-friendly farming schemes are key to delivering a countryside rich in wildlife and one of the only streams of funding improving the sustainability of the wider landscape.

We have only one opportunity to urge the NI Executive, and the Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Michelle O’Neill in particular, to support our wildlife friendly farmers. The Minister will have the option to transfer (or ‘modulate’) up to 15% of funds into our Rural Development Programme from the much larger portion of CAP funds devoted to direct payments to farmers. Wildlife friendly farming schemes not only deliver for the natural environment but also for rural communities and the wider economy, making them excellent value for public money.

Together we can help to convince Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill that prioritising wildlife friendly farming is good for all of us! Please ask the Minister to transfer the maximum amount possible (15% of funds) into the Rural Development Programme. If you’ve got 10 minutes to spare please email the Minister now at private.office@dardni.gov.uk as a decision is likely to be made in the coming weeks.

Got questions? Leave a comment or email Colum.delaney@rspb.org.uk. You can help us monitor the progress of our campaign by sending a copy of your letter and any responses you get to the same email address.

Thanks for your support!

Help secure the funding wildlife friendly farming needs in England!

Steph — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 12:57:00 GMT

The recently launched State of Nature report has shown us the extent of the hardships facing wildlife in the UK. An estimated 60% of the UK’s species are in decline, something our Government has committed to halt. Around 75% of the English countryside is farmed, so farming in a way that looks after nature is one of the largest steps we can take to restoring our countryside’s wildlife.

Many of you have campaigned with us throughout the reforms to the CAP and now decisions are being made on how the new CAP will work at home.

You can have your voice heard and help get the best deal for our farmland wildlife by writing to your MP. Ask them to urge our Secretary of State for the Environment to pledge full funding for wildlife-friendly farming and take an ambitious approach to ‘greening’ our farmed environment. We expect him to finalise important decisions on this towards the end of July, so if you have 10 minutes to spare write to your MP now.

Many farmers across the UK are already doing fantastic things for wildlife through ‘agri-environment’ schemes, which provide support for farmers who use techniques that allow wildlife to survive and flourish on their farms. This support doesn’t just help wildlife; it also has a multiplier effect on the rural economy, delivering excellent value for public money and benefiting rural communities and the wider environment.

This money, which also supports much other investment in our rural economies, comes from ‘Rural Development’ funds – a small proportion of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the most important pot of funding available for conservation in the UK. In the European budget deal agreed earlier this year these funds suffered disproportionate cuts, but now there could also be an additional way to look after wildlife in our farmed environments.

Almost all farmers receive direct payments out of the remaining 75% of CAP funding (which provide few public benefits), but to qualify must meet some requirements, such as other EU rules on water and soil quality. The next CAP period will also include a new ‘greening’ requirement, meaning that a certain proportion of each farm will need to be managed for environmental benefit. If put into practice well this could provide a huge boost to wildlife across the EU because every farmer would have to take some basic measures, also securing much better public value from direct payments.

Our Secretary of State for the Environment, Owen Paterson, has some important choices to make about both the new ‘greening’ requirements and how much funding to make available for wildlife-friendly farming schemes here in England. He can make direct payments work harder through an ambitious ‘greening’ programme and is allowed to transfer 15% of funds from the huge direct payment budget across to support our Rural Development Programme. These funds are already transferred in the current programme, so without them the Government will struggle to continue to support farmers who currently looking after our natural environment.

Here are a couple of points you could raise in your email:

Wildlife-friendly farming schemes provide benefits not just to our wildlife and countryside, but also to rural communities and the wider economy, making them excellent value for public money
The Government should therefore transfer the maximum funds allowed (15%) to Rural Development in order to continue to deliver these public benefits
This transferred money should be ring-fenced for wildlife-friendly farming schemes, which are central if the Government is to halt wildlife declines and improve our natural environment
The Government should take an ambitious approach to the new ‘greening’ requirements so they secure much needed environmental improvements across the country, and provide better value for money from direct payments

You can find out who your MP is and their email address at http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/, or send your message through http://www.writetothem.com/. Got questions? Leave a comment or email campaigns@rspb.org.uk. You can help us monitor the progress of our campaign by sending a copy of your letter and any responses you get to the same email address.

Thanks for your support!

Planning for Northern Ireland’s future – help us put nature at the heart of legislation!

Steven Roddy — Fri, 31 May 2013 14:32:18 GMT

The State of Nature report highlighted the fragility of our natural heritage. We now know the stark message that nature is in trouble and we were hugely disappointed that an amended, draft Planning Bill was brought to the Northern Ireland Assembly with contents likely to further damage our natural heritage.

The Planning Bill initially allowed the consideration of economic, social, and environmental impacts in equal measure when assessing planning applications. However, in 2013 it was brought back to the Assembly with additional clauses that we are deeply concerned about.

We want to ensure that the natural environment is at the heart of our local planning system. We understand the fragile economic situation and want to see economic growth – but short term economic considerations cannot be at the expense of our valuable natural environment. Indeed, we believe that economic and environmental benefits can be delivered together, as long as sustainable development is considered from the start.

The RSPB works to shape planning policy and submits planning applications to further our conservation work. We are in a strong position to express our concerns, which are shared by environmental NGOs, academics and many others and over the past few months we have met with MLAs and some of the political parties to do just this.

What are our concerns?

Clauses 2 and 6 of the Bill would combine to give economic objectives greater weight than the other sustainable development considerations (environmental and social). This is not contained in similar legislation in England, Scotland or Wales and could set a dangerous precedent as it could be subject to differing interpretation by subsequent Ministers, planning officials and local Councils.

We are also disappointed that the additions to the Planning Bill (2013) are not being fully consulted upon. The Environment Committee are scrutinising the Bill and have held a Stakeholder Forum which the RSPB attended and contributed to. However, the Environment Committee’s consultation period, while welcome, falls short of the full consultation we would have expected for such potentially far-reaching legislation.

What you can do

The Planning Bill is likely to come before the Assembly again very soon, and a number of political parties are supporting these damaging clauses. We can do something about it if we act now. I’d like you, as someone who values nature, to email or write to your local MLAs and ask them to vote against Clauses 2 and 6 of the Planning Bill.

A personal e-mail or letter will have the most impact, but if you only have a couple of minutes you could visit the ‘Amend the Bill’ website and send the template e-mail they have prepared.

You can find details for your MLAs here, and can search by MLA or constituency name. If you click on an MLA’s name and then ‘contacts’ you can see their email and postal address. It is also important in correspondence that you let them know that you are one of their constituents by providing your postal address.

For further information please email RSPB NI Policy Advocacy Officer Colum Delaney on colum.delaney@rspb.org.uk. Please also e-mail Colum to let him know you’ve contacted your MLA and to tell him how they responded.

Help ensure that wildlife friendly farming in Scotland secures the maximum funding possible

Steph — Wed, 29 May 2013 15:24:00 GMT

Allan Whyte, Parliamentary Assistant at our Scotland HQ, explains how you can have your say to make sure wildlife-friendly farming gets the funding it needs.

The recently launched State of Nature report has shown us the extent of the hardships facing wildlife in the UK. It is estimated that 60% of the UK’s species are in decline - a shocking statistic that tell us urgent action is needed to halt this loss of biodiversity and restore our natural environment before the change becomes irreversible.

Over 75% of the Scottish countryside is farmed, making agricultural environments a really important place for nature. Farming in a way that looks after it is therefore one of the largest steps we can take to restoring our countryside’s wildlife. Many farmers across the UK are already doing fantastic things for wildlife through ‘agri-environment’ schemes, which provide support for farmers who use techniques that allow wildlife to survive and flourish on their farms.

The money that supports these schemes comes from rural development funds, the smaller ‘Pillar’ of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Many of you will have been following the current reforms to the CAP, and have campaigned with us throughout the process. We’ve now got to the stage where country-level decisions about funding for the next seven years are being made.

The Scottish Government has opened a public consultation on the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) and is asking whether funding for the SRDP should stay the same or increase. You can respond to this consultation until 30 June and if you have 10 minutes to spare we’d really encourage you to have your say.

Here are a couple of points you could raise in your response:

The Government should ‘modulate’ the maximum funds allowed (15%) to rural development

The CAP is split into two parts – the majority is devoted to direct support to farmers and a smaller portion delivers public benefits through ‘Rural Development Programmes’ (RDPs), which include support for wildlife-friendly farming. The Government has the option to ‘modulate’ funds – to move up to 15% of the money from the larger segment (Pillar I) into rural development (Pillar II).

Because these funds benefit the environment and rural communities as a whole, they are an excellent way to support sustainable development and deliver real value for public money. As a result of the negotiations in Europe, disproportionate cuts fell on RDPs and modulating as much funding as possible is important in ensuring that as much of the good work happening already can continue.

At least 50% of the SRDP 2014-2020 should be allocated to agri-environment schemes

Currently, wildlife-friendly farming schemes receive less than one quarter of the SRDP budget but need much more if we really are going to stop wildlife declines in our countryside – this small pot is one of the biggest funding mechanisms we have for nature conservation. We need farmers to continue to be able to look after nature on their farms, and support for farmers who want to start doing so too.

Please e-mail your response to the consultation (Subject: SRDP Consultation Response) to SRDP2014-2020Consultation@scotland.gsi.gov.uk by 30 June. It’s normal for the Scottish Government to make consultation responses public so if you wouldn’t like yours to be you must state that you’d like it to remain confidential.

Got a question about this campaign? Leave a comment or email campaigns.scotland@rspb.org.uk.

You can help us monitor the success of our campaign by emailing a copy of your letter and any responses you receive to: campaigns.scotland@rspb.org.uk. If you’d like to see the full consultation you can find it at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/05/9633/0.

Help the national curriculum connect children to nature

Steven Roddy — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:49:35 GMT

Children need nature for their health and wellbeing, their education, and the development of vital social skills. However, today's children are less connected to nature than ever before and they’re missing out on these benefits. An additional, disturbing, consequence is that they’re less likely to take action to save nature now and in the future.

A great tool that governments can use to help children develop a connection to nature is the national curriculum. Through this they can ensure there are opportunities for children to experience it firsthand, to learn about ecology and the environment, and about how humans can impact on nature.

As you may have seen in the press recently, the Department for Education is currently consulting on reforms to the national curriculum for 5-14 year-olds in England. You have the opportunity to respond until 16 April, and we’d encourage you to do so if you have 10 minutes to spare.

As you’ll see from the points below, there are wider implications for saving nature. Therefore, if you do respond, we’d like you to forward your response to your MP and ask them to write to Richard Benyon MP (Minister for Environment) to encourage the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to fully engage with the reform of the national curriculum.

Here are a few points you could raise in your response in relation to the draft programmes of study:

We welcome the requirement for environmental and ecological knowledge in science; starting with learning to name plants and animals, and progressing to learn about habitats, evolution, and “the production of carbon dioxide by human activity and the impact on climate”.
We also welcome the statutory requirement for fieldwork throughout geography, and ‘working scientifically’ (including real world learning experiences) across science.
We would remind Government of its ambition, in the 2011 Natural Environment White Paper, “to see every child in England given the opportunity to experience and learn about the natural environment... [and] to help people take more responsibility for their environment...”
We would also remind Government of their 2010 commitment to help deliver the global UN target that, “By 2020, at the latest, people are aware of the values of biodiversity and the steps they can take to conserve and use it sustainably”.

Given the scale of these challenges, we feel that additions must be made to the statutory requirements:

The role of geography across all key stages must be expanded to include inspiring a sense of environmental responsibility, and growing knowledge of ecosystem services, the conservation of biodiversity and how human activity and natural processes can lead to changes in the environment.
Learning in science must be expanded to recognise that environments are constantly changing as a result of natural processes and human activity, and that this can sometimes pose dangers to specific habitats and species, including humans.

Please e-mail your response to the consultation to NationalCurriculum.CONSULTATION@education.gsi.gov.uk by 16 April.

To find out who your MP is and how to contact them you can visit the UK Parliament website, or you could use the Write to Them website. Please let us know if you’ve taken part by commenting on this post or by e-mailing campaigns@rspb.org.uk – we’d also be interested to see any replies you receive.

Thanks for your help!

A Successful Campaigns Training Day

LSamet — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 14:12:50 GMT

The first (of hopefully many!) Campaigns Training Days was held at the NCVO in London on Saturday the 23^rd of February. It was a very cold start but as the snow began to fall over Regent’s Canal, our campaigners arrived for a day of campaigns focussed discussions, group work and activities.

Thank you to all those who braved the weather to be there, the day was a success (we received really positive feedback so thank you) and it was great to meet so many like-minded new faces (personally, it really gives me great hope to think that there’s such a diverse group of people out there who share a love of nature and want to help protect it!).

The day included a ‘Good Campaigns’ breakout, which involved watching successful campaign videos both from the RSPB and from other organisations (one of which you can see here). Laura MacKenzie then kindly came in to talk to us about her role as a Parliamentary Researcher (for the MP Caroline Lucas), which gave us some really useful insights into how an MP’s office responds to campaigners, and also gave champions a chance to ask questions on the best way of contacting MPs. The afternoon saw some Campaigns Speed Dating! With Paul Outhwaite providing the hypothetical case of the Thames Estuary Airport to lead the discussions on constructing a campaigns plan using letter writing, social media, traditional media and face to face lobbying. With all that on the agenda the day went very quickly!

For those of you that are perhaps unfamiliar with the NCVO (the National Council for Voluntary Organisations), and would like some more general campaigning information (non-RSPB related), the NCVO website has some great links to campaigns resources and is well worth having a look at for further information and practical support in campaigning. The site can provide further information on the popular subjects that people wanted to know more about including the use of social media, contacting your MP and lobbying various audiences. Please do have a look, but if there are any further campaigns related questions you might have please feel free to ask by commenting on this blog below or by emailing us directly at campaigns@rspb.org.uk

Happy Campaigning!

Thank You for Asking Mr Cameron to Vote for Nature!

LSamet — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:06:00 GMT

Thank you for signing our petition to David Cameron, calling on him to ‘vote for nature’ in Brussels and protect wildlife-friendly farming funds from disproportionate cuts.

Over 30,000 of you joined our call, an overwhelming response!

The EU Budget negotiations resulted in a deal between the heads of state of the 27 countries, but the outcomes were disappointing for wildlife-friendly farming. The funds were cut severely – more heavily than those on other parts of agriculture funding that don’t deliver such public benefits BUT the cuts were not as deep as had been discussed in earlier negotiations.

The EU Budget is not the last word on money for wildlife-friendly farming. The European Parliament now picks up the decision making and over the next few months will vote on the details of the next seven years' farming policy, so there are plenty of opportunities to secure gains for wildlife.

We’ll continue to advocate a farming policy that looks after our farmland for the future, not just for now, and delivers more for wildlife and the environment. We’ll need your help again at this next stage, to show your MEPs that wildlife on farms matters to the people they represent, so watch this space for news...

In the mean time if you would like to read more of our analysis of the Budget decision, you can take a look at Conservation Director Martin Harper's blog.

Thank you once again for your support and we look forward to campaigning with you further in the future.

Written by Steven Roddy, Head of Parliamentary Campaigns.

Scottish Devolution – What it Means for Campaigns

LSamet — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:04:00 GMT

The RSPB has a prominent role to play in advocating for better protection of wildlife in the UK. The way that we do this depends on what we are campaigning for and which country we are in. Of the four countries that make up the UK, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have devolved powers which affect how the RSPB, as a conservation organisation, work and who we work with. It is important from a campaigning point of view that we are speaking to the right people, and about the right things.

In 1997 there was a referendum which asked Scots if they wanted a devolved parliament. Nearly 75% of Scotland voted in favour of a Scottish Parliament and after the Scotland Act 1998 was passed, a Scottish Parliament was formed, with members elected in 1999. The Scottish Parliament is housed in the fantastic building at Holyrood, designed by Barcelona architect Enric Miralles. The last time the Scottish Parliament met before 1999 was in 1707 when the Act of the Union was passed, which abolished the parliaments of Scotland and England and created a single parliament at Westminster.

“...Scottish Parliament holds the responsibility for a range of environmental and climate change issues”

The Scottish Parliament holds responsibility for ‘devolved matters’ whereas the Westminster Parliament is responsible for ‘reserved matters’. In other words, Westminster reserves the right to legislate for certain things and everything else becomes the responsibility of the Scottish Parliament. Importantly for RSPB Scotland, the Scottish Parliament holds the responsibility for a range of environmental and climate change issues. This means that within the four countries of the UK, the RSPB has to adapt the way we campaign on different issues, tailoring what we do towards the different governments and administrations.

Since 1999, RSPB Scotland has been involved with many campaigns that have been specific to Scotland’s devolved powers. Our most recent high profile campaign has centred on the designation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the seas around Scotland. This is a good example of how, to be effective, we have to campaign from a Scottish perspective. The different administrations around the UK passed their respective marine acts around the same time (with the exception of NI). The Marine Act in Scotland gave the Scottish Government the powers to designated areas of the sea that would protect the best of Scotland’s marine wildlife.

Photo by: Julia Harrison. Photo from a recent parliamentary event held at Holyrood, organised by RSPB Scotland and hosted by Angus MacDonald MSP.

The RSPB has a fantastic base of knowledgeable and impassioned supporters who care about the environment and are willing to campaign with us for what we, collectively, believe to be in the best interests of wildlife in the UK. In Scotland we have drawn upon this wealth of support to try and persuade the Scottish Government to include protection for seabirds in its designation of MPAs. However the only way for this campaign to be effective is to speak to Scottish supporters about our marine wildlife so they too try to influence the Scottish Government.

Colleagues in Wales and England are engaged in similar campaigns concentrating on issues and processes relevant to their areas. It is only with this regionalised, but collective, approach that we can be successful. We have to draw upon experience and support from all over the UK, but then adapt that knowledge to work at a national and a local level.

With the political system as it is in the UK the RSPB are extremely fortunate to have a great number of highly experienced and innovative people working for nature. We are even more fortunate to have the support from so many members of the public because we simply cannot be an effective campaigning organisation, either on a UK or devolved level, without the voice of our supporters.

As we go forward there is a certain degree of uncertainty about how the political landscape will change in the UK. Next year Scotland will hold an independence referendum, and if Scotland votes yes for independence it will separate from the UK in 2016, followed by a Scottish General Election. There is also a UK general election in 2015, and, if the Tories are re-elected, there will be a referendum on EU membership in 2017. Whatever the future holds, the RSPB and other organisations, have to continue to work in Westminster, Cardiff, Stormont and at Holyrood to make sure that the environment does not become a martyr for the economy. It makes economic sense to invest in our environment after all.

The most effective way of campaigning for a better environment is by sharing ideas and information at a UK level and adapting that to our respective countries.

If you would like to campaign with us and add your voice to RSPB’s million supporters please click here to register. In Scotland, we aim to trial a Campaign Champions programme over the next few months. Campaign Champions will be empowered to campaign at the local and national level on the most important environmental issues of the day. Keep an eye out for more information on our website.

Written by Allan Whyte, Parliamentary Assistant

Happy New Year from the Campaigns Team

LSamet — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:33:00 GMT

A Happy New Year to you (better late than never!)

As promised here’s a bit more on what’s to come campaigns wise in the first part of 2013, this week focussing on the CAP reform....

Many of you have been following our activity around the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in Europe. Over 70% of the UK is farmed, so this is an incredibly important policy for UK wildlife. It’s just a tiny proportion of CAP funding that’s dedicated to wildlife-friendly farming, but it represents one of the biggest pots of money available for wildlife conservation in the UK countryside.

The EU Budget sets the headline figures available for the CAP, so has a big influence on wildlife-friendly farming funds. Last November many of you emailed David Cameron before he went to the first Budget summit between EU heads of state. The November talks collapsed, but the PM is due to head back to Brussels on 7 February, when a final agreement is expected. Please watch our video to find out why the budget matters so much and sign the petition to tell David Cameron to vote for nature.

Once the Budget has been agreed we’ll be focussing our attention back on MEPs, who will vote through the CAP reforms. There’s still a lot of change needed to get to a better policy that supports wildlife alongside sustainable food production, but there are also still opportunities for our MEPs to grasp that message and fight to get it into the reform.

Watch this space for updates on what’s next, but for now we’ve got just a few days to ask Cameron to vote for nature so please share this campaign with your friends once you’ve signed!

Written by Stephanie Landymore, photo by Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)

New Year’s Resolutions

KatB RSPB — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 09:30:00 GMT

I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and are looking forward to the New Year. There’s a lot going on in 2013 on the RSPB campaigning front. The first half of 2013 sees us campaigning on vital areas including the Energy Bill, CAP reform and our Safeguard our Sealife Campaign to name a few (more to come on these next year).

But its Christmas, or actually its that period of Christmas limbo after the big day itself but before January 1^st when you’ve eaten too much turkey afternoon naps have become compulsory and that festive jumper that was fun before Christmas now seems a bit too Christmassy to be wearing on December 28th. Its time to think about the New Year.

So whilst sitting on the sofa (I’m not suggesting this need be energetic - get a cup of tea and another chocolate out of the tin) have a think about what your new year’s resolution may be for 2013, if you’ve not done so already how about registering to become an RSPB Campaigner?

The Campaigns team here hope to add to our ever growing network of volunteer Campaigners, as our Campaign Champions and Champion Activists can really make a difference to some vital campaigns coming up in 2013! Visit the webpage here to find out more about the roles.

So far we have Champions registered in 150 constituencies and Activists registered in 64. The UK is divided into 650 parliamentary constituencies and our goal is to eventually have at least one Campaigner in each constituency for effective local campaigning. The ultimate aim being building networks of RSPB campaigners in important areas, as together our voice is much louder!

My Resolution...Being a Campaign Champion Activist myself, one thing I’d like to tick off my list is a face to face meeting with my MP. It’s something I haven’t had time to do this year but will definitely make time to do next year.

Is your resolution to step up for nature this year? If so let us know how! If you have any comments, photos or thoughts you want to share, please put them out there and let’s get some discussions going! Sharing ideas is a really useful way of passing on information and it gives you a chance to interact with like-minded people and make some new friends.

By Lauren, RSPB Parliamentary Campaigns Intern Photo:Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)

My Campaigning Journey

KatB RSPB — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 12:01:00 GMT

Have you ever really thought about why you care about the natural world and our environment? Was there a particular moment or special person in your childhood and formative years that created that spark, captured your imagination and taught you to look at things differently?

I believe it’s vital to know why it is we do what we do, so we have a good understanding of how to create that spark in others and help build the next generation of environmental campaigners and natures heroes who will, like us, step up and fight for our wildlife and wider environment to ensure that generations after them have the right to enjoy what we have.

Like many of us, my passion and interest in the natural world was nurtured by my parents and I am so lucky in that respect. After pondering for some time I have somehow been able to pinpoint pretty much the exact moment that my spark was ignited and the fire in my belly to fight for environmental justice was lit.

It was a rainy February morning in Manchester and my mum dragged me out of bed. It was 1996 and I was a belligerent 15 year old. Reluctantly I got up and got dressed, slightly embarrassed that I might be seen heading into Manchester with my mum. Wearing my baggiest hooded top we set off to our ‘rendezvous point’ near Manchester Town Hall. We arrived and there were a handful of others waiting patiently for a coach. I asked my mum again where we were going, so convinced was she that I come along, and she told me “We’re all going to a place called Newbury. The government are trying to build a road through an area of beautiful countryside, and we are going to join others on a march and tell them, NO!”

Ok I thought, slightly non-plussed and got on the coach with about 50 others heading due south to a place I had never heard of before, but a place that would be etched into my consciousness for ever. After a journey of about 5 hours we arrived at our destination and I will never forget the sight I was met with. A police helicopter hovered in the air, whilst what looked like thousands of police gathered nearby, some in riot gear. My mum looked nervous, obviously not expecting this kind of hostile reception, I however was quite excited!

We joined the march with about 5,000 others carrying placards and banners, chanting and singing, a nice man gave me a whistle and we set off making as much noise as possible. After a while the march entered a woodland and hush descended across the crowd. This was a beautiful wood, carpeted with the first bluebells of spring and the last snowdrops of winter, birds were happily singing in the huge oak and ash trees. This was a special place. My mum told me that they were on the verge of bulldozing it to build a trunk road so people could save a few minutes off their journeys. I could not believe what she was saying, that this amazing area of countryside was directly under threat. As we continued the march through the woodland I saw something that I will never forget. In the tree canopy there were about 50 treehouses, skilfully built out of pallets and plywood, all interlinked with ladders and ropes. It was an amazing scene and a wave of cheering moved across the assembled crowd in support. I was amazed to see these activists making such a dedicated stand to protect this area of countryside, giving up so much to protect our natural heritage. These people were truly inspirational and I joined the rest of the crowd in shouting our approval to the tree tops!

The march ended peacefully and we boarded our coach back home. I was feeling such a mix of emotions. I was angry that this area of countryside was under such a grave threat of destruction but I was also so enthused by the passion and commitment of the protestors to try and save this special place. As soon as I got home, I wrote to my MP. After waiting over 4 weeks for a reply that never came, I went and knocked on his door as he lived in the same village as me. He looked surprised but quite impressed to see a 15 year old on his doorstep asking him why he had not responded to a letter about the Newbury Bypass. He promised me he would write to the Transport Secretary as soon as possible. In the months and years after this protest I felt emancipated and proud to stand up for the environment amongst my peers, when before I had not.

The rest is history. Devastatingly the Newbury Bypass was built and the beautiful wood was bulldozed. This battle was lost, but the war was won as the government scrapped their huge road building schemes for other special places amongst our countryside, performing a U-Turn on many more planned roads. This protest is also regularly cited as the spark that created a whole new environmental movement in the late nineties and early noughties. It certainly did with me, and since then I have not looked back. I went on to University to study Environmental Conservation and regularly volunteered and campaigned for various environmental organisations. I now find myself working as a campaigner for one of Europe’s largest Environmental Charities, standing up against environmental injustice and holding politicians accountable for their actions, mobilising and enabling others to really make a difference. It’s funny how things turn out, what would have happened if my mum didn’t drag me out of bed that rainy February morning? Hindsight is a wonderful thing but thanks anyway Mum!!

By Martin Abrams, RSPB Parliamentary Campaign Officer Photo: Martin at The Wave, SCC event

10 Reasons to be a RSPB Campaigner

KatB RSPB — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 17:01:00 GMT

Campaigning is at the heart of the RSPB, the society was founded to protest against the trade in plumes of feathers in women’s hats. Today the main aims of being a RSPB campaigner are to highlight to your MP or decision maker that environmental issues are important, and to urge them to take positive action.

There are two types of RSPB campaigner:

The Campaign Champion whose role includes, campaign material distribution; putting up posters; writing letters and emails (to decision makers or the media) and using social media channels to promote RSPB campaigns

The Campaign Champion Activist whose role includes: face-to-face lobbying of decision makers (MPs, councillors etc); and all the roles from the Campaign Champion role.

Heres 10 reasons why you should get involved and sign up to one of these roles today:

1. Volunteers can make a big difference Campaign Champions and Champion Activists have collected over 2000 signatures for the RSPB 'Safeguard Our Sea Life Campaign'. RSPB Campaigners have also been campaigning on crucial areas such as the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), to ensure funding for wildlife friendly farming measures is not lost.

2. Its a flexible role and support is provided You can give as little as a couple of hours a month. You do not have to do everything you are asked – just those things you are comfortable with and you won’t be alone – we’ll give you the tools to campaign effectively

3. It improves your skills and knowledge Campaign Champions have the opportunity to attend training workshops as well as being provided with relevent background information to each campaign but you may wish to do your own research too. All this will help build your knowledge of current environmental, wildlife and political decisions. The Campaigns team are also on hand to answer any queries you may have.

4. It allows you to gain campaign experience Practice makes perfect. Over time letter writing and engaging decision makers will become the norm as your confidence increases. You may even want to become more involved and meet your MP face to face.

5. It boosts your CV With all the skills, knowledge and experience you’ll be gaining from participating in the role it would be a shame not to mention it on you CV!

6. It lets you work with the largest environmental charity in Europe! The RSPB has more than one million members, almost 18,000 volunteers, 1,300 staff, more than 200 nature reserves, nine regional offices, a UK headquarters, three national offices... and one vision - to work for a better environment rich in birds and wildlife.

7. It lets you have a voice and gives you a sense of accomplishment. Becoming a campaign champion really does allow you to make a difference (just see point 1!). If you are passionate about wildlife and care for the environment this is one way you can Step Up For Nature and be a part of the solution to biodiversity loss.

8. It can improve your confidence This is a by product of increasing your skills, knowledge and experience. You don’t have to be an expert in wildlife legislation to become a Campaign Champion but after participating with some of the campaigns you probably will be! Once you see the impact your work can have you will feel more confident in your writing skills and engaging people on related subjects.

9. It lets you meet new people Whether it’s becoming part of our online community on Nature’s Heroes, meeting people at training days or setting up a network of campaigners in your local area, being a Campaign Champion can allow you to meet new faces and talk to people with similar interests.

10. It’s good for you health!If all this hasn’t yet convinced you then perhaps the research that volunteering can have a positive effect on both physical and mental health can help make up your mind.

For more information please visit our Campaign Champions Webpage where you can register your interest with us.

Boom or bust for wildlife

KatB RSPB — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 12:58:00 GMT

This year marks the 25^th anniversary of the agri-environment scheme which provides farmers with payments for managing their farms in a wildlife friendly way. It has been a vital step in bringing species such as the cirl bunting and corncrake back from the brink and the latest official figures show that in excess of 8.8 million hectares of land in the UK are covered by agri-environment scheme agreements.

Unfortunately any celebrations will have to be cut short as the EU budget which provides the funding is due to be reviewed on the 22^nd of November. David Cameron and fellow EU heads of state will meet in Brussels to discuss how the trillion Euro budget should be spent for the next seven years. The Prime Minister is under pressure to freeze or cut the current budget but with an already unacceptably low share of EU money going to wildlife-friendly farming, further cuts would be disastrous; we need more farmers helping wildlife, not fewer.

This does not mean that the overall size of the budget needs to grow, but that any cuts should come from those subsidies that don’t provide anything for the taxpayer in return.

The RSPB is calling on all those who care about the future of the financial support that benefits our countryside to step up for nature and email David Cameron here urging him not to sacrifice the strongest lifeline for wildlife but to safeguard this spending.

For the latest news on the EU budget read RSPB's director of Conservation, Martin Harper's Blog here

It’s the Law!

KatB RSPB — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 11:18:00 GMT

Its not often that you get the chance to influence the law but when the opportunity arises you have to seize it and we need your help...

The Law commission is currently reviewing the laws that protect wildlife in England and Wales with a view to proposing reform.This is an ideal opportunity for the introduction of Vicarious Liability, which holds land owners and managers to account for wildlife crimes committed by their staff, as well as other improvements to some of the UK’s outdated and convoluted laws.

The Law Commission has published a consultation inviting comments on its proposals so please step up for nature and show your support by making a submission. Click here for information on what you might like to include - it only needs to be a brief letter but it could make all the difference.The consultation closes on 30 November 2012, so your response must have been received by the Law Commission by then to be counted.

Following the public consultation, the Law commission will analyse the responses and publish a report. Following this, a draft Bill should be introduced by mid 2014.

Raise money for rainforests

Naomi Rose — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 13:49:59 GMT

Would you like to step up for nature and help us raise money to support our rainforest work? If so, we're looking for people to help us collection donations!

Our rainforests are being destroyed at an alarming rate. Saving them is important in so many ways, from helping the fight against climate change to protecting some of the world's most fascinating but endangered species.

As part of our Together For Trees partnership with Tesco, we have a great opportunity to raise money at over 900 Tesco stores across the UK on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 September. We're looking for volunteers to help raise money for our work in rainforests around the world.

Bucket collections are great fun and we'll give you everything you need to take part. We don't need much of your time - just one morning or afternoon is fine. And if you bring a friend, all the better!

Sign up to register your interest and a member of our team will get in touch with you. Deadline for registration is Friday 14 September.

Ask Nick Clegg about Rio+20!

Naomi Rose — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 12:38:29 GMT

Next week, leaders from around the world will gather in Rio de Janeiro for the Rio+20 Earth Summit to discuss sustainable development, 20 years on from the original Earth Summit.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP will be leading the UK Government's delegation in Rio. Today, he shared with us his Ambitions for Rio+20 on RSPB Conservation Director Martin Harper's blog - have a read of the post here.

What are your thoughts on the blog post? Do you have a question you'd like to ask the Deputy Prime Minister about Rio+20? Share your questions below and we’ll pick the best 20 questions for the Deputy Prime Minister to answer on his return from Rio+20.

Don't forget to also ask your MP to support the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition Rio UK Declaration too. Find out more about this here.

A victory for buzzards & an opportunity for all birds of prey

Steven Roddy — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 15:32:12 GMT

After a public outcry Defra has dropped its proposal to trial the removal of adult buzzards and the destruction of their nests around pheasant release sites. A big thanks to everyone who stepped up and made their feelings known!

This is great news, but more needs to be done.

At a time when many UK birds of prey, not just buzzards, continue to suffer persecution, Defra could and should be doing more to ensure their future. It certainly shouldn’t create more obstacles to their recovery.

We now have an opportunity to keep up the momentum and achieve even more for all our birds of prey.

Please email or write to your MP and ask them to call on Defra to publicly state that no licences will be issued to kill any bird of prey to protect game birds or other livestock.

Find out more about how to take action.

Thanks for Stepping Up for Nature!

Help Us Ensure David Cameron Shows Support for 30% Emissions Reduction Target!

Martin Abrams — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:34:00 GMT

Climate change is the biggest single threat to wildlife and people. Science is revealing example after example of birds, mammals and whole ecosystems that are being harmed by a warming world.

Not only that but, we depend on the earth’s natural systems for our food, resources and ultimately our survival. While Europe’s decision makers debate the politics around cutting our carbon targets, millions of vulnerable people are facing increasing drought and severe weather conditions across the world. And of course we’re expecting our own fair share of drought here in the UK. I heard last week when the hosepipe ban began that it would take six weeks of solid rain just to get us back on track! Personally I find this incredible – it definitely sets some alarm bells ringing!

It is clearer than ever that we urgently need to take ambitious action if we are to keep emissions under control and avoid the catastrophic effects of unchecked climate change.

Today we have a chance to do exactly that...

On 26 April, our Prime Minister, David Cameron will deliver an environmental speech to global energy ministers at the Clean Energy Ministerial meeting in London. This speech is a crucial moment in the fight against climate change. We know our Climate Change Minister, Greg Barker, has recently shown his backing for more ambitious climate targets but now we need the Prime Minister to take this message to the international stage.

The story so far tells us that the EU is currently committed to a 20% cut in carbon emissions by 2020, but scientists agree that this reduction target has to be at least 30% if we are to stay within safe levels of climate change.

Today we can put pressure on our Prime Minster to publically show his support for the 30% target and to persuade the rest of Europe to back a more ambitious emissions reduction target.

As a founding member of the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition we are working together with the campaigning organisation 38 degrees, and partner NGOs including Friends of the Earth and WWF to reach as many people as possible. This is your chance to step up and call on Mr Cameron to show that the UK supports the need for greater carbon emission reduction.

Please click here and email the Prime Minister today! And, don’t forget to tell your friends and family and share on facebook, Twitter etc.

As well as emailing and sharing why not send a tweet to Number 10 as well? We have written a few sample tweets that you can use below:

@Number10Gov Please continue to support a 30% emissions reduction target & do all you can to persuade EU countries to adopt it #Ambition30

@Number10Gov Pls show support for 30% emissions target in your speech on 26 April & lead the way for EU countries to adopt it #Ambition30

@Number10Gov Climate Change is the biggest threat we face,Do all you can to build EU support for 30% Emissions reduction target #Ambition30

Thanks for your continued support. Together we can really make a difference.

Martin Abrams

Help George to ‘wake up’ before the UK Budget on 21 March

Steven Roddy — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 11:32:07 GMT

By now you’ve hopefully seen some of the promotion for our ‘Wake Up George’ campaign. We’re calling on the Chancellor, George Osborne, to wake up and use his Budget statement on 21 March to put the environment at the heart of the UK’s economic recovery.

We’re doing this because we’re concerned that recent public statements by the Chancellor are increasingly portraying the environment as a barrier to the UK’s economic recovery. In last November’s autumn economic statement, the Chancellor described hard-won legal protections for our most precious wildlife sites, as a “ridiculous cost on British business”.

We accept that the Chancellor needs to deliver economic growth and create jobs in the face of an enormous economic challenge. What we do not accept is that the environment is a barrier to success.

Instead of environmentally destructive and high carbon, we want sustainable growth that acknowledges the value of the natural world that sustains us. Instead of a Thames Estuary Airport that will destroy areas internationally acknowledged as important for wildlife and blow any chance we have of meeting our commitments to help avoid catastrophic climate change, we want the Chancellor to look to the London Gateway port development as an example of how infrastructure projects should be done.

Watch our short Wake Up George animation to see what things could be like if he takes a different view later this month. Then please step up for nature and e-mail the Chancellor to put the environment at the heart of the UK’s economic recovery.

If you’ve got an extra minute why not ask your friends to step up too by visiting www.rspb.org.uk/savingspecialplaces

If you’ve got an extra couple of minutes why not tweet your MP? If they’re on Twitter you can find them on Tweetminster. You can tweet what you like but we’ve prepared a couple if you just want to copy and paste:

Urge the Chancellor to put the environment at the heart of the UK’s economic recovery on 21 March #wakeupgeorge #budget2012 #RSPBsteppingup

Environment isn’t a barrier to growth. Urge Chancellor to put environment at heart of his Budget #wakeupgeorge #budget2012 #RSPBsteppingup

The environment underpins economic growth. Urge the Chancellor to remember that on 21 March #wakeupgeorge #budget2012 #RSPBsteppingup

Thanks for your support!

Step up to save nature! Tell the Chancellor NO to damaging developments.

Martin Abrams — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:36:45 GMT

To all Nature's Heroes,

As well as telling us how much more we’ll have to pay for a pint of beer or a litre of petrol, the UK Budget on 21 March may prove to be one of the most significant moments the environment has faced in more than three decades.

In 2011, the Chancellor described hard-won legal protections for our most precious wildlife sites, as a “ridiculous cost on British business”. Here's hoping that he had a good break over Christmas, feels refreshed and will take a different view in 2012.

We accept that the Chancellor needs to deliver economic growth and create jobs in the face of an enormous economic challenge. What we do not accept, and will never accept, is that the environment is a barrier to success.

Instead of environmentally destructive and high carbon, how about sustainable growth that acknowledges the value of the natural world that sustains us? Instead of a Thames Estuary Airport that will destroy areas internationally acknowledged as important for wildlife and blow any chance we have of meeting our commitments to help avoid catastrophic climate change, how about the Chancellor looking to the London Gateway port development as an example of how infrastructure projects should be done?

Step up for nature and e-mail the Chancellor today. Urge him to use his Budget statement on 21 March to put the environment at the heart of the UK’s economic recovery.

Please circulate this to as many of your social media contacts and networks as possible before the Budget statement on 21 March 2012, on twitter please use the hashtag #NoEstuaryAirport.

Thanks

Martin Abrams

Help us make The Big Garden Birdwatch the biggest yet!

Martin Abrams — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:51:32 GMT

The days are getting longer and the first signs of spring are starting to appear, birds and wildlife are stirring and hundreds of thousands of people across the UK are preparing for the world’s biggest wildlife survey. The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch; where we ask people to spend 1 hour watching and recording the birds in their garden or local park; is taking place on the weekend of 28 & 29 January 2012.

In 2011 over 600,000 people took part. We hope with your help to make 2012 the biggest one ever. Please take part yourselves, and if you can please help us spread the word by taking a few of the suggested actions before, during and after The Big Garden Birdwatch:

Before:

Pre-register for 2012 –Please encourage your friends and family to Pre-register for Big Garden Birdwatch to make submitting the bird results in January quicker and easier.
Change your Twitter or facebook picture to a special Big Garden Birdwatch avatar.
Start Tweeting and using the hashtag #birdwatch

e.g ‘I’m taking part in the RSPBs Big Garden Birdwatch because..I want to help save nature #birdwatch http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/

Start getting your garden as bird friendly as possible and encourage others to do the same by visiting our Homes for Wildlife webpage
Encourage your local school to take part in the Big Schools Birdwatch
Write to you local Newspaper letter section to let them know you are taking part

During:

Twitter: I’m a part of the World’s biggest Wildlife Survey – The Big Garden Birdwatch is happening now #birdwatch http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/
Call your local radio station and tell them about the Big Garden Birdwatch and why you are taking part.
Go along and/or encourage other to attend a Big Garden Birdwatch Event near you

After:

Envourage everyone to submit their results online as soon as possible (this is the most cost effective method for the RSPB)

Tweet: I’ve just submitted my Big Garden #Birdwatch results online, you can too here...... (NOTE: survey form opens on 28 Jan 2012)

Write a short summary of the what you did and saw on the day itself and why you think the Big Garden Birdwatch is important, submit it to the Nature’s Heroes Forum

And that’s it. If you can help us with just a few of these activities you will be making a huge difference towards this being the biggest Big Garden Birdwatch ever. Happy birdwatching!

Martin Abrams

From one rallying cry to the next...

Emily Sanders — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 09:10:06 GMT

It can't have escaped your notice that the Chancellor launched an attack on the environment earlier this week.

Most notably, he refered to the Habitats Regulations, which ensure major developments don’t destroy our most precious wildlife sites, as a ‘ridiculous cost on British business’ and claimed that they amounted to ‘gold plating’ on European legislation. The RSPB is not opposed to such a review as we are confident that the regulations that have served us well for so long will stand up to scrutiny. But we will fight any attempts to dilute the protection they provide.

Understandably, many of our supporters are outraged and have asked what they can do to show thier support for nature.

Please step up for nature and write to your MPs today, let them know that wildlife and the natural environment don’t need to be sacrificed for growth - that they can be at the heart of our economic recovery. Please urge them to pass on your concerns to the Chancellor. And, please do encourage your networks to do the same!

You can find more information here.

No doubt I'll update you again shortly!

Thank you,
Emily

Things heat up around climate change on the road to Durban

Emily Sanders — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:56:00 GMT

The RSPB and The Stop Climate Chaos Coalition are excited to announce the launch of the African Climate Connection. From 26 November until 3 December there's a host of African themed events taking place with the aim of showing MPs how much people in their constituencies care about climate change. There are almost 50 events happening across the UK and there may be one happening near you.

We are also broadcasting an African Climate Connection online debate with Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Chris Huhne MP, on Thursday 1 December at 7 pm. This could be your chance to ask him any burning climate questions, just before he jets off to Durban. You can submit questions online or by using the #HuhneConnect hashtag on twitter. You can also watch the debate live.

For those of you on twitter, I'll be posting things you can do/retweet each day over the coming week. These things range from changing your avatar, going on a palm-oil hunt and as I said above, posing questions for Chris Huhne and helping promote the webcast.

Hope you can help spread the word in some way, do let me know how you get on.

Thanks, as ever, for your support Nature's Heroes!

Emily

Big Garden Birdwatch: have you registered yet?

Emily Sanders — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 08:30:00 GMT

Have you registered for Big Garden Birdwatch yet? Equally as important as the campaigns and appeals we share with you, Big Garden Birdwatch is a key step you can take for nature. What’s more, it’s one you can take in the comfort of your own home!

As regulars on the Community, I know you all get a lot of enjoyment out of Big Garden Birdwatch. For some, it’s a chance to relax and for others a great activity that all the family can enjoy. We’d love to know specifically why you take part so please do tell us by completing the sentence below.

“I take part in Big Garden Birdwatch because...’

Oh, and just in case the taking part isn’t enough, if you register now you can enjoy a 10% reduction on bird food and bird feeder products purchased through our online shop.

As that famous supermarket says, ‘every little helps’ and that applies to nature conservation as much as it does your pockets!

We’ll be sharing lots of hints, tips and activities you can do to prepare for the event over the coming months. So, please step up and get ready for Big Garden Birdwatch 2012. It’ll be here in a flash!