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Water, wildlife and us
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Water, wildlife and us

The RSPB’s vision for water and wildlife is one of a landscape filled with healthy lakes, lochs, rivers and coasts, supporting wildlife in abundance, and providing places for people to work, rest and play.  

In this future, historic wetlands such as the Somerset Moors and Levels or the Flow Country are protected and restored, and new wet places have been created for people to enjoy close to towns and cities. Ponds, ditches and puddles are familiar and cherished parts of the farmed countryside.  

Precious wetland birds, like the kingfisher, lapwing, avocet and snipe are part of our lives, now and forever.

Read on to find out how we can make this vision a reality.

Water and wildlife

Everyone knows that rivers, lakes, ponds and estuaries are great places to see wildlife - not just birds, but fish, insects, plants, amphibians, reptiles, and if you are really lucky, mammals such as the otter and the water vole. More...

Otter in water

Water and birds

All species of bird depend on water in one way or another - and wetlands are important for more birds than it might at first seem. More...

Dipper perching on rock in stream

The health of our waters

Although there have been some true success stories in improving water quality, the overall picture for wetlands and wetland wildlife remains worrying. More...

Water vole

Destruction of peat bogs

The destruction of lowland raised peat bogs continues - even on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) - because people still buy peat for their plants and gardens. More...

Lochans and peat bog, Forsinard