RSPB England

Wild bird populations in the UK and England, 1970 to 2024

Latest government stats show a continued decline in many bird species across the UK 🪶🧪

www.gov.uk/government/s...

These data are made possible by the dedication of expert volunteers, allowing us to track common bird populations for >50 years

Peatlands are vital ecosystems and are home to diverse wildlife, they also play a crucial role in our efforts to tackle climate change. We hope this is a move towards ending peatland burning for good

Picture of a Hen Harrier mid flight

Thanks to brilliant conservation efforts with our partners it has been a record year for Hen Harriers in the Forest of Bowland, with one of the highest number of fledglings recorded in over 40 years! Read all about it here: www.rspb.org.uk/england/engl...

YouTube video by RSPB Landscapes of the future - how we're helping wetlands withstand the climate crisis | RSPB

We are taking steps to help our wetlands become more resilient and adaptable to climate change. This will enable them to continue to support a wide range of species throughout changing weather systems.

Find out more
youtu.be/m6KGt7uOMqY?...

@btobirds.bsky.social @birdlifeglobal.bsky.social

Today’s report shows the UK Government has taken some steps to help restore nature over the past year - with over 10 million trees planted and new National Nature Reserves declared.

But it’s not enough.

Progress remains too slow, as nature is continuing to decline.

RSPB Exe Estuary nature reserves featured in lovely new film about importance of protected sites ...

Thank you Natural England, NERC and University of Exeter

www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happen...

A Red Kite glides in mid-turn above a softly blurred countryside, its rust-red body and distinctive forked tail sharply outlined. The sun lights up the bird’s feathers and yellow eye as it scans the land below.

After decades of campaigning, restrictions on toxic lead ammunition are finally on the way. 👏

A long-overdue move that will save tens of thousands of birds & countless other wildlife from lead poisoning.

Thank you to all who campaigned with us & to UK Gov for taking this step.

Help us build a UK-wide picture of where Swifts are nesting, so that we can better target our conservation efforts, by logging your Swift nest sightings on Swift Mapper 👉brnw.ch/21wTMyw
Full guidance on what to look for and how you can help👉 brnw.ch/21wTMyv

It's Swift Awareness Week so we're celebrating the community projects currently underway across the country and highlighting things we can all to do to help 'Save our Swifts'.

Find out more and check out the Swift awareness events near you: brnw.ch/21wTKox

YouTube video by RSPB 'Return' trailer - a 50-year story of repair, resilience, and eagles | RSPB

RETURN

From extinction to reintroduction, our new film charts the 50-year fight to return White-tailed Eagles to our skies.

Coming Summer 2025.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_A7...

A group of ten young people stand on a road as part of a march holding placards including 'Restore the Wonder' 'Life is beautiful' 'There's good in this world and it's worth fighting for' 'Nothing changes if it isn't challenged' 'Stop Robin us of our future'.

Are you aged 16-24 and passionate about protecting nature, or know someone who is? We’re looking for new RSPB Youth Council members!

Find out more and apply by 27th June: www.rspb.org.uk/about-us/how...

Congrats to everyone who's secured a place for the 2026 #LondonMarathon 🥳

And if you're not one of the lucky ones, don't fret, you can still apply for a place to run for the RSPB!

More details 👇
www.rspb.org.uk/helping-natu...

Let’s hope many more make use of this opportunity.

Together with Species Conservation Strategies (similar to PSS but for species) Protected Sites Strategies are now an available means to work strategically and collaboratively, within existing environmental law, to proactively restore nature, while supporting economic growth and food security.

Protected Site Strategies – Problems Shared By David Burton, Principal Officer, Protected Site Strategies “Whatever lies on the horizon, these reserves might just offer a simple vision of how good things could be.” Professor John Wedgwood Clark...

Now, after 3 years of piloting, it’s great to see Natural England today launch the first version of their Protected Site Strategies (PSS) Advisory Guidance and identify the first 7 sites to take these forward.

naturalengland.blog.gov.uk/2025/06/16/p...

Complying with the biodiversity duty As a public authority, understand what the biodiversity duty is and how to comply with it.

And with a basis in law, once a PSS has successfully passed through public consultation, there’s a duty on public bodies to support its delivery.

www.gov.uk/guidance/com...

Crucially, Protected Site Strategies should act as an umbrella over existing plans and strategies, drawing these together and aligning and streamlining them to work more effectively and efficiently together.

Led by Natural England, Protected Site Strategies take a bottom-up approach, convening stakeholders to identify causes and co-design solutions to issues that can’t be solved at site-level, such as catchment-scale water pollution, deer management problems, and recreational disturbance.

A photograph of a Lapwing

Rooted in the Environment Act 2021, Protected Site Strategies offer a new statutory means to tackle the issues affecting some of our most important places for nature, by looking beyond the boundaries of protected sites to create a strategic landscape-scale plan for recovery.

A Yellowhammer perches quietly on a branch, bathed in golden evening light. Around it, leaves glow softly in the fading sun. The image captures a fragile moment in nature: beautiful, vital, and at risk...reminding us what’s at stake if we fail to invest in a thriving natural world.

The Chancellor spoke of ‘fixing the foundations.’

But no foundation is more vital – or more at risk – than nature. It underpins our health, our economy, and our food security.

The government must continue to invest in its recovery: because there is no future without it. 🍃

A swathe of oxeye daisies in full bloom lines the edge of a green arable field, under a blue sky scattered with light cloud. The scene evokes a thriving, balanced countryside where wildflowers and crops grow side by side.

For months, alongside farmers, supporters, and nature groups, we’ve made the case for protecting nature-friendly farming.

Today, we’re pleased to see HM Treasury has listened: the nature-friendly farming budget has been maintained.

This is a crucial step, but nature needs more...

“RSPB Minsmere is one of the most important places for nature in Europe. Some of the UK’s rarest birds, such as Marsh Harriers and Bitterns, have only avoided extinction in the UK after surviving here. We believe that wildlife at Minsmere, and along the Suffolk coast, could be damaged during the lengthy construction period of Sizewell C and may be in a worse state once development is completed. “Crucially, it never had to be this way, the right package of measures could have been put in place to make sure wildlife did not come off worse. The RSPB, with the help of many thousands of our supporters, did our best through the planning process to make this happen, but our efforts were not fully rewarded. “Decisions have required us to work with mitigation measures to reduce damage and protect wildlife. We continue to do what we think is best, as it matters for generations to come that places like Minsmere exist and thrive. As the UK Government debate England’s future planning system, we and our partners continue to call for better outcomes that do not pitch development against nature in this way”.

RSPB England reaction to the Sizewell C funding announcement.

A dramatic aerial view of turquoise waves crashing against rugged cliffs, swirling with energy and white foam. A wild and powerful seascape, alive with motion, this is the marine world we must protect.

Bottom trawling tears up fragile seabed habitats & harms the life that depends on them.

Today’s UK Government decision to ban it in 40+ Marine Protected Areas offers hope: a chance to let our seas recover & life return. 🌊

Let's see Marine Protected Areas live up to their name.

Nightjar on the ground camouflaged against the dirt, with green foliage in the background.

📢 We need your help to monitor Nightjar for the Heathland Birds Survey! Find a priority site near you ➡️ www.bto.org/heathlan... #Ornithology #UKBirding

A huge thank you to all volunteers participating in this project!

📷 Nightjar by Mike Toms

An Avocet in water covering its legs, the bird is sweeping its curved bill in search of food.

It's a mixed picture across the UK as to how a range of birds are faring. Read more in this summary by our senior conservation scientist bit.ly/4mEZRjU
@btobirds.bsky.social @bbs-birds.bsky.social @webs-gsmp.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social

📸RSPB-images

RSPB Bempton Cliffs has become England’s first ‘Shorewatch’ site with Volunteers are scanning the sea for dolphins, porpoises,seals and whales and collecting data to help protect our marine life. Who doesn’t love a dolphin? @whalesorg.bsky.social
📹 Steve Race

The National Fire Chiefs Council has reported over 200 more wildfires this year than for the same period in 2022 - the worst year on record for wildfires, and more hot spells are predicted.

Most wildfires are preventable, help us to keep people, nature and wildlife safe.

A European Starling perches on a sheet of rusted, corrugated metal, beak wide open in full cry. Its glossy, speckled plumage catches the light against a blurred, burnt-orange backdrop. The bird appears mid-shout - a wild, urgent alarm from nature.

We’re not alone. We & the @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social are united in calling for Part 3 to be scrapped.

Keir Starmer, Rachel Reeves, Steve Reed, Angela Rayner, @matthewpennycookmp.bsky.social

The choice is yours.

And it will be remembered by the millions of us who care about the natural world.

Screenshot of a Guardian news article with the headline: “Wildlife charities urge Labour to scrap ‘licence to kill nature’ in planning bill.” The subheading reads: “Conservationists say part of bill allowing developers to avoid environmental laws by paying into nature fund should be ditched.” Below, a protest photo shows handmade signs in woodland. One reads “BAT FACTS – 14 species of bat in Buckinghamshire. Bats are the only mammals that can fly.” Another says “FAT CATS KILL BATS” in bold letters. The image underscores public anger and the scale of opposition to the proposed Planning Bill.

Labour promised to restore nature. ❌

Instead, their Planning Bill contains a licence to destroy it.

We offered solutions. We’re done waiting.

Part 3 of the Bill would gut the laws protecting our most precious habitats & species.

Without significant change, it must be scrapped.

The latest @webs-gsmp.bsky.social report is out now! Take a look at how waterbirds are faring in this thread ⬇️ or visit our website: www.bto.org/webs-annual-report 🌍 🌐