How we look after England's wildlife & habitats

Learn about the work we do to restore nature. Commitments like the global biodiversity framework are paramount in our efforts to reverse biodiversity loss.

From ancient woodlands and lowland heaths to estuaries and rugged coasts, we’re working across England to pull nature back from the brink. At RSPB nature reserves and throughout expansive landscapes we are protecting, restoring, creating and enhancing land to benefit people and wildlife. We’re also connecting as many different types of people as possible with nature and ensuring the UK government is delivering on its commitments to protect our environment. Read on to find out more.   

Our work with government

Environmental laws and policies created in Westminster  have a profound impact on nature in England. The RSPB works with decision-makers and influencers to call for strong laws to protect and drive the restoration of nature, backed-up by effective and clear plans and programmes to deliver change on the ground.  

Through the Environment Act 2021, Westminster has committed to ambitious targets for nature including bringing a halt to the decline in species populations by 2030. But at the same time, it has worked to weaken some environmental protections. We will hold the government to account, doing everything we can to push ministers to deliver these targets and to keep their promises to protect nature.

To halt the decline in species populations by 2030 nature needs Westminster to: 

  • Develop challenging interim targets and actions ,to pave the way for delivering long-term targets for restoring species 
  • Set out actionable plans to restore 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030 
  • Support farmers to move to more nature and climate friendly practices 
  • Make changes to ensure a more nature and climate friendly land-use planning system. 
  • Maximise the potential for nature of the new Biodiversity Net Gain system. 
  • Ensure that environmental assessment systems strengthen and do not weaken protections for nature. 
  • Maintain that strong  protected area habitat management systems and ensure that they also covers climate change mitigation and adaptation. 
  • Close the nature finance gap and increase both public and private finance to meet nature targets. 
  • Develop spatial plans for major infrastructure developments that minimise harm to nature and look for opportunities to help it recover. 
  • Roll out country-level marine plans for offshore renewables (as in Scotland) to ensure we’re on track to meet offshore wind targets, while balancing the risk to marine wildlife 
  • Development of a fair marine ‘net gain’ system to help drive the recovery of ocean and coastal biodiversity. 
  • Make net-zero a reality by cutting our greenhouse gas emissions rapidly across all sectors of the economy. 

How to become a campaigner

Connecting more people with nature

The RSPB cannot save nature alone. We know we must work with communities and partners to achieve our aims. Through engagement, we harness the power of people and put people at the heart of our mission to save nature. Our work connects and mobilises more people to save nature – engaging with and empowering the communities we work with, reaching new audiences and working with partners to increase our impact.  

We support people to take action for nature each and every day, aiming to connect as many different people as possible with nature throughout England. Here are just a few examples of what that looks like in practice: 

  • Launching England’s first Nature Prescription to boost health and wellbeing  
  • Working in partnership providing opportunities for young people who are not in education, employment or training to learn about conservation 
  • Developing new and innovative ways to involve volunteers in all aspects of our work  
  • Supporting amazing volunteer-led RSPB Local Groups and Youth Groups 

Transforming landscapes

Whether it’s restoring blanket bog in the Peak District or securing a future for some of our most vulnerable coastal birds, for decades, we’ve been leading pioneering projects to recover species and habitats across England.  We’re working to protect and restore some of our most special landscapes and seascapes – areas that are particularly important for wildlife, where we believe we can make the biggest difference for nature. But these incredible spaces are under threat. Our ecological expertise in restoring, creating and managing at scale, and our committed and innovative partnerships put us at the forefront of delivering for nature. Working with this ambition and at this scale requires collaboration to deliver places where people want to live and visit, and where farmers and landowners work with and alongside us.