#652: Stone Curlew habitats and new housing

This story from the BBC News had a headline which at first glance is the wrong way round surely...

It's since been changed.

Stone curlews are a protected species. I have seen them in the wild in a field which is part of a Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve.

I've visited Weeting Heath and seen the bird in the fields at the reserve. It's eye always draws the eye... it's a beautiful bird.

#642: Wildfires

Wildfires are breaking out across Europe.

It's not clear whether most of them started by natural causes.

A report from the House of Lords.

Wildfires are a natural phenomenon and an essential process in some ecosystems. However, around the world climate change, demographic changes and shifts in land use are altering their frequency and severity.

In the UK, natural wildfires, for example those sparked following lightning strikes, are rare and most wildfires are the result of human action. The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), which represents fire and rescue services (FRS) across the UK (44 in England, three in Wales and one each in Scotland and Northern Ireland), notes that most wildfires nationally originate from human activity such as:

• littering (from improper disposal of a cigarette to dropping litter such as reflective items and glass bottles that then start a fire)
• unattended fires (campfires, bonfires and barbecues left unattended or not fully extinguished)
• deliberate fire-setting
• controlled burning used to manage land that then gets out of control

There is no single definition of what constitutes a wildfire in the UK, with different definitions used by government agencies, the media and FRS. 

The UK government used to define a wildfire as any “unplanned and uncontrolled fire(s) in the natural environment”, but now defines the term to mean an “uncontrolled fire that burns vegetation, such as grass, heather, woodland, crops and scrubland”.

The NFCC maintains that not all outdoor fires are wildfires. Instead, it defines a wildfire as “any uncontrolled vegetation fire which requires a decision, or action, regarding suppression”. In addition, the NFCC specifies that a wildfire will meet one or more of the following criteria:

• involves a geographical area of at least one hectare (10,000 square metres)
• has a sustained flame length of more than 1.5 metres
• requires a committed resource of at least four FRS appliances/resources
• requires resources to be committed for at least six hours
• presents a serious threat to life, environment, property and infrastructure

One of the most heartbreaking ones, was relatively local to me, and an area I know well: Dunwich Heath which borders Minsmere RSPB reserve.

A fundraiser shows the depth of feeling for this landscape.

"This beautiful purple landscape, once filled with the sound of warblers and skylarks and people enjoying a walk through the heather, is now unrecognisable."

Hilary McGrady, director-general of the National Trust

#610: Wild Future - RSPB

The RSPB's magazine is a good resource for Natural History. It would be worth having an RSPB subscription for the geography department. This would

The RSPB were one of the original supporters of the GCSE Natural History and may be planning some support for schools that are offering the qualification.

It would be nice to think that schools offering the qualification would perhaps be able to take their group of GCSE Natural History students to their local RSPB reserve for a reduced (or free) entry fee perhaps?

 This could also work for other organisations working in the same sort of area.

#556: RSPB - a fieldtrip option, and citizen science opportunity

The RSPB is one of the supporters of the new GCSE in Natural History. 

A list has been blogged previously showing the original supporting organisations. 

The connections which are made clear when the draft subject content emerges for consultation will be helpful in providing a steer for the approach that has been taken.

There are quite a few RSPB reserves around the country.

It is one of the largest conservation organisations in the country, and has many members. They have also been particularly critical in the last six months of changes in government policy around planning, which was a rare foray into this sort of campaigning work.

They also have a role in education, and could well provide a useful option for schools needing local fieldwork opportunities, or training, or perhaps to provide a role for certain students. 

There may well be some ornithological experts amongst the student body of any school - although the Merlin ID app is a useful alternative to actually recognising bird song.

RSPB reserves welcome visitors of course, and they also have an Educational 

The RSPB website is here.

RSPB members can access reserves and car parks. It is a good value membership given the number of reserves that can be visited.

#546: RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch

This takes place this coming weekend.

Make sure that you take part in this huge citizen science event. Just give up an hour of your weekend to sit there with a cup of tea and see which birds land in your garden.

At the time of posting around 400 000 people / families have registered to take part.

Come and join us!

#455: Stand with the farmers

70% of UK land is farmed.

If we want nature to recover, this is where it happens.

Farmers like @herdyshepherd1 are already doing it – farming with wildlife, not against it. But without proper funding, we risk losing it all.@RachelReevesMP: increase funding, grow our future. pic.twitter.com/jJvbUHPXfH

— RSPB (@Natures_Voice) May 30, 2025

#288: RSPB: Nature can't wait

This is a list of logos of organisations that are behind the RSPB's campaign that Nature Can't Wait for us to act on climate change.

They are similar to the organisations that were originally supporters of the GCSE Natural History.

One of the more prominent organisations is the RSPB. 

They have a huge membership and own a number of reserves within and beyond the UK.

I've been a member of the RSPB for well over thirty years.

'Nature can't Wait' is a campaign hub on the main RSPB page.

#204: The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2024

This takes place between the 26th and 28th of January 2024 for homes, and schools are also welcome to take part of course.

It's important to both take part in, but also encourage all students to take part in this important citizen science project in 2024. 

I've registered for the event, and chosen to receive a digital guide rather than a printed guide.

Across the UK, over half a million people took part in Big Garden Birdwatch 2023, counting a whopping 9.1 million birds! House Sparrows took the top spot, but counts of these chirpy birds are down by 57% compared to the first Birdwatch in 1979. In fact, we’ve lost 38 million birds from UK skies in the last 60 years. 

With birds facing so many challenges, it’s more important than ever to get involved in the Birdwatch. Every bird you do – or don’t – count will give us a valuable insight into how garden birds are faring.

Here are the results for 2023