Spoon-billed Sandpiper – great news!

This spoon-billed sandpiper chick is amazingly cute and has an amazing mother and an amazing grandfather. Its own cuteness needs no elaboration from me. Its mother was hand-reared by conservationists in Russia from eggs taken from nests on the breeding grounds.  The reared birds were then released to set off on their 5000 mile journey…

Dr Debbie Pain recognised by Marsh Award

Dr Debbie Pain, the Conservation Director of the WWT, was recognised by the Zoological Society of London last week with the Marsh Award for Conservation Biology. Debbie worked ‘for’ me (in fact I appointed her) and then with me at the RSPB for 16 years before heading off for WWT. Debbie has done ground-breaking and influential…

Nature Check

Today, 41 organisations, under the banner of Wildlife and Countryside Link, publish their assessment of Government’s progress over the last 12 months, on its own stated commitments (a report called Nature Check).  In four areas Government gets the green light indicating good progress, in nine areas a red light for failure, and in 12 areas…

Guest Blog – Kids and nature by Andy Simpson

It is hard to imagine a great childhood that would not involve being outdoors, being active and exploring natural places.  From playing conkers and wading through fallen leaves in the Autumn to discovering the magic of a rockpool at the seaside, those are the memories of glorious days we want our children to have. I…