Nature's Voice

The RSPB’s new online activity awards, funded by their partnership with supermarket chain Aldi, aims to connect children with nature. Wild Challenge is full of ideas to inspire children to get outdoors and during Wild Challenge week from the 30th of July to August 5th those who gain bronze, silver or gold awards will also receive RSPB goodies. On this edition of Nature’s Voice Jane Markham meets up with the RSPB’s Rebecca Kerfoot and Aldi’s John O’Maoileoin to find out more.

The annual Swift Survey has been running since 2009, gathering information on where swifts are nesting across the UK.  Swift numbers are declining and data from the survey, plus ground breaking research in Northern Ireland, is providing clues to why this might be happening. On this episode of Nature’s Voice Jane Markham talks to RSPB conservation scientist Kendrew Colhoun about GPS tagging and to Guy Anderson about how your sightings can contribute to this year’s survey.

The government is seeking views on the future of farming.  Michael Gove, secretary of state at the department of farming, food and rural affairs wants the UK to be a global leader in protecting the planet and on this episode Jane Markham talks to RSPB Scotland's Vicki Swales, about how farming policy post Brexit could change the countryside for the better. And in Curlew Crisis Month she meets farmer David Bonnar whose work on his upland farm is helping the plight of this critically bird.

When humans move species from one part of the world to another it can cause all sorts of problems. On this month’s Nature’s Voice Jane Markham meets three people who are coping with the impact of these invaders on a daily basis. Laura Bambini is an RSPB Scotland seabird recovery officer, Kelly Thomas, a reserves ecologist who has advice on how to recognise a new threat from the asian hornet and Danny Heptinstall, who as an RSPB policy officer, specialises in invasive non native species and biosecurity.

Field crickets are in danger and the Back from the Brink Field Cricket Project team are working to help increase the population of these chunky little crickets which are just 2 cm long. In the 1980s, there was only one group of fewer than 100 individuals left. This is where the cricket ticklers come in. On this edition of Nature’s Voice Jane Markham finds out more from Jane Sears, the RSPB’s senior reserves ecologist and Martin Fowlie – a volunteer cricket tickler!

The government has set its vision for a green future in a detailed 25 year plan to improve the environment. On this month’s Nature’s Voice, the RSPB’s Senior Policy Officer Robin Wynde talks to Jane Markham about the plan and what needs to be done to achieve its goals. And Cambridgeshire farmer Martin Lines, a member of the new Nature Friendly Farming Network, explains why it’s so important that sustainable farming has a voice at this critical time in the debate over the future of agriculture.

TV presenter Miranda Krestovnikoff takes part in the Big Garden Birdwatch every year with her children. Actor David Neilsen, who plays Roy Cropper in Coronation Street, will be joining the count for the first time. On this month’s Nature’s Voice Jane Markham meets them both and finds out what has inspired them to get involved in the 39th Big Garden Birdwatch on the last weekend of January.

This year's State of the UK's Birds report highlights how climate change is affecting our wintering and breeding birds. This annual 'stock take' of bird numbers is a collaboration between the RSPB, the British Trust for Ornithology and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust with the UK's statutory conservation bodies. On this month's Nature's Voice Jane Markham finds out more from RSPB conservation scientist Dr Daniel Hayhow and Dr Teresa Frost from the BTO. 

Back from the Brink

In a world where we spend more and more time indoors - how can today’s children connect with nature? Throughout the summer the RSPB, in partnership with the supermarket chain Aldi, have been addressing this in parks up and down the UK with the Wild Parks programme. On this episode of Nature’s Voice Jane Markham meets Martyn Foster, the RSPB’s head of education, families and youth who has been overseeing the project and hears from Ellie, the bug hunter and some of the children and parents who took part

The government has published the Great Repeal Bill - more formally the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill. It states that all existing EU laws will be copied into UK legislation when the UK leaves in March 2019. How will the laws protecting nature and wildlife fare in this transition? On this edition of Nature’s Voice Jane Markham speaks to the RSPB’s Conservation Director Martin Harper and Kate Jennings, Head of Site Conservation Policy, about the threats and opportunities for nature contained in the bil

Corncrakes were once widespread throughout the UK but their numbers declined catastrophically during the 20th century. By the 1990s they were only found breeding in the Hebrides, Orkney and some parts of the Scottish West Coast including Durness. On this month’s Nature’s Voice Jane Markham talks to the RSPB’s John Bowler who monitors corncrakes on Tiree in the Hebrides and meets Paul Walton, head of habitat and species for RSPB Scotland to discover more about these birds and their changing fortunes

Project Puffin

Swift Cities

National Nightingale Festival