An evening with Iolo Williams, in support of Birders Against Wildlife Crime

Iolo  &  Gary

The RSPB Liverpool crew 13 strong took an evening sojourn over the Mersey gateway to support an event close to our hearts.😉 A fabulous evening listening to Iolo Williams Williams in aid of Birders Against Wildlife Crime - thank you to the organiser and our host Gary Jones Wildlife Photography.

Iolo really is a personable ,inspirational speaker, with great humour, slightly toned down this time - for our younger audience! The talk told of the rise and fall of birds in prey; the spread of red kites and marsh harriers, the success of urban peregrines, but also the worrying decline or a once familiar motorway verge forager the little windhover- kestrel.

He regaled us with tales of his RSPB days, entombed in an unsavoury, undergrowth hide for a long weekend whilst on a nest watch, checking chicks under the hard stare of a huge female goshawk at her nest -scary 😮; then the horrible recounting of the recovery of a tragic buzzard from a primary school yard, no feet - left behind in an illegal pole trap, traumatised children, quite sickening.😥😡

Which bring us to the main reason we were there, to raise awareness of wildlife crime, to ask us to watch out for these traps and any suspicious behaviour whilst out on our countryside walks. 👀👍

Follow the Birders Against Wildlife Crime guidelines 

RECOGNISE : RECORD : REPORT http://birdersagainst.org/rrr/

An remember your first action is to ring the RSPB Love Nature hotline, take pictures for evidence if possible, and without staying stay safe

RSPB Investigations Section on 01767 680551 (for Scotland: 0131 3174100), or email crime@rspb.org.uk. 

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-w…/…/how-to-report-crimes/

The talk ended with an auction and raffle and Gary was pleased to announce that it looked like the event had raised just short of £500 for BAWC. Terrific.

The Peoples’ March for Wildlife, London

The sodden 10,000 on the move

We all headed south.  It meant a very early rise, but it was clear that all were of one mind that this cause was something worth getting up early for.  Several of the Friends of Pickering’s Pasture were going to Hyde Park to join others passionate about the natural world to march through London on The Peoples’ March for Wildlife.

Chris Packham

The gathering at Hyde Park had a slow start initially, but numbers soon swelled.  One group had left Scotland at 02:30 while others had travelled widely from across the UK.  We caught sight of key UK naturalists including Mike Dilger, Martin Hughes-Games, Bill Oddie, and Iolo Williams.

Iolo adding some humour

The organiser, Chris Packham, had worked tirelessly for months supported by folk who have become known as his Ministers.  For two hours we listened to interviews with children, experts, keen supporters until at midday the more formal presentations began.  We heard passionate – and at times moving – talks from mainly young people.  Georgia Locock, Bella Lack, Mya-Rose Craig and Dara McAnulty spoke of their fears for the future: fears of species extinction, habitat loss, climate change and our estrangement from the natural world.  Adult experts provided numbers to endorse our concerns for the future: Dominic Dyer called for a halt to the badger cull and a stop to the slaughter of Scotland’s mountain hares; Professor Dave Goulson cautioned about the impact of agrochemicals on the natural environment; while Dr Ruth Tingay spoke of the challenges of wildlife crime.  We were uplifted by musical contributions from Billy Bragg, Saskia Eng and Grace Petrie.

Team Liverpool

Liverpool RSPB's Linda Rees

Jeff Clarke & Anno Brandreth crusading

Laura B and hedgehog friend

Team Liverpool on the move

At 1pm the move towards Downing Street began.  The slow progress was witness to the fact that 10,000 people had gathered to express their common goal that we should invest in wildlife.  Many had downloaded a file of birdsong so Piccadilly, Pall Mall, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall echoed to the calls of Blackbird, Blackcap, Chiff-chaff, Nightingale, Robin, Song Thrush and Skylark. This was to remind people that 44 million birds have disappeared from the UK countryside since 1966.  Passers-by paused to look at placards, to chat to people, to join in or to peep their car horns.  No-one could have ignored this collective of wildlife campaigners snaking through the City of London. 

Crowd at Whitehall

Once the head of the march reached Downing Street, Chris Packham and some of his young campaigners presented a copy of A Peoples’ Manifesto for Wildlife to the Prime Minister’s Office.  This excellent and challenging document contains 200 proposals to end the war on wildlife.  The march ended with more uplifting talks from George Monbiot, Mark Avery and Chris Packham.  For two hours the rained had poured incessantly, but this did nothing to dampen the spirits and resolve of those involved.

Leadership

Future generations  - fighting for wildlife

The march over, people then headed for the Underground and for the long journeys home.  Most were exhilarated feeling that, for once, it was good to be shouting out for wildlife.  Now the work begins.  This must not be a one off.  I am sure that those of RSPB Liverpool and  the Friends of Pickerings pasture who were there will be sharing their thoughts to the rest of the group.  Always active to ensure that all our local reserves and wild places provide a haven for wildlife, the work will continue.

If you want to read A Peoples’ Manifesto for Wildlife’ you can access it on: https://www.chrispackham.co.uk/a-peoples-manifesto-for-wildlife

More pics here -

https://www.flickr.com/groups/3168623@N20/

Peaty Jen & Laura

Parkgate Hen Harrier day vision

We had a dream - to bring Hen Harrier day to Parkgate in 2018. 

If you build it, they will come😃

Fabulous day - thanks to all who volunteered, supported and those who were just out for  a Sunday walk and became better informed😉

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OyGuDvSSl4

https://www.craigjoneswildlifephotography.co.uk/blog/events/hen-harrier-day-2018/20180815864/

Advertising at Martin Mere

Team Liverpool

Iolo 

Jeff did a fantastic job in opening  and closing the speakers  sessions . He really reinforced the fact that Hen Harrier Days need to continue and why we were all there all. Audeince particiation was as ever mandatory🤣👊 

Jeff socks it to Beefy Botham

The first speaker Colin Wells (former manager at RSPB Burton Mere) who spoke about the history of the site and how it is a fantastic place to come and see Hen Harriers in the Winter.👌

Second speaker was Colin's successor as manager at RSPB Burton Mere; Graham Jones spoke about how he was going to continue to protect the site for raptors and  breeding waders.👏

Next up was Alan Davies who talked about Hen Harriers, lifed the audience - He told them that they will lose eventually, no matter how long it takes.😆 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5PoH4-oWgE

Findlay Wilde was on next.Talking about the illegal persecution of upland wildlife and joined the other voices in calling for an end to this barbaric slaughter. Told a personal story about a Hen Harrier called Finn, her life cut down far too soon😡😰.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0n_iKWFOm4

Findlay

After Findlay it was James Bray from the RSPB  Bowland.  Talking about upland species of raptor  that should be breeding in Bowalnd likes Peregrine and Hen Harrier. Stories from the front line of raptor conservation.😡

Next was Dr Mark Avery, who  recapped on the history of Hen Harrier Days and his hopes for the banning driven grouse shooting .👊 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UNxNrdTHmw

Finally  Iolo Williams. Another heart felt,  rousing  speech relating  how  he used to go up on the moors and watch Hen Harriers as a child and yes he's  really 'pissed off' . 😆👍 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brwIAdCucro

Videos courtesy of Stuart pike

Gathering


See you next year 👊🤞👀

Hen Harrier Day 2018

     

We’re missing our Hen Harriers and we want them back.

This year we are marking the Inglorious 12th  on our home patch.. we got it to PARKGATE, so be there

Join the official Hen Harrier Day protest event at Parkgate, Wirral 12noon Sunday 12/8/18.

The Parkgate message to our RSPB members who share their disgust and sadness at this persecution for the sake of a minority's so called  'sport'....

*Satellite tagged Aalin disappeared,  assumed dead

Hen Harriers are still being heavily persecuted by the Driven Grouse Shooting fraternity, already this year two satellite tagged Harriers from this year’s broods have disappeared in suspicious circumstances. England still has fewer than a handful of breeding pairs and nobody is getting prosecuted for the illegal persecution of this iconic species.

It is up to all of us to bring pressure to bear on the powers that be - politicians, the police, the CPS and DEFRA/Natural England to take this situation seriously. To enable us to do that we need to speak with a unified voice and a very loud one. We also need to get our message across to the general public, for whom this issue has little, or of no relevance. We need to get their support if we are going to turn this super-tanker of destruction around. It is for this latter reason that this year we have chosen Parkgate Old Baths as our venue for the awareness raising protest. Till now we have largely preached to the converted, from here on we must ensure that non-birders know just what is going on in the name of ‘sport’.

How can you help? Spread the word, share it on social media ..tell everyone about the event that's taking place and try and persuade them to attend if at all possible. This is a numbers game!

We have some great speakers,

James Bray (Bowland Project Officer for RSPB),

Findlay Wilde (A Young Campaigner on Conservation Issues)

Mark Avery (Author, campaigner and naturalist) pictured with RSPb's Tim Melling

Iolo Williams (say no more) 

Hen Harrier day 2017 Dunsop Bridge

*Missing, assumed dead Aalin

https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2018/03/21/satellite-tagged-hen-harrier-aalin-disappears-near-ruabon-grouse-moor-north-wales/

RIP - LIA- did'nt make it to her first birthday

http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/2018/07/25/nos-da-to-our-tagged-welsh-hen-harrier-lias-journey-is-over/#more-24227

State of nature update

Following the launch of the State of Nature in 2013, on 3 September 2014 the Rspb are hosting the Conference for Nature in Westminster.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/forprofessionals/conference-for-nature.aspx

I’m sure there will be more news to follow, but please listen to David Attenborough’s opening gambit here

http://vimeohttp://vimeo.com/105133745.com/105133745

and don’t forget to vote for Bob ! 

https://www.voteforbob.co.uk/

2013 State of the nature report- Groundbreaking report shows nature is in trouble

David Attenborough:

The islands that make up the United Kingdom are home to a wonderful range of wildlife that is dear to us all. From the hill-walker marvelling at an eagle soaring overhead, to a child enthralled by a ladybird on their fingertip, we can all wonder at the variety of life around us.

However, even the most casual of observers may have noticed that all is not well.

They may have noticed the loss of butterflies from a favourite walk, the disappearance of sparrows from their garden, or the absence of the colourful wildflower meadows of their youth. To gain a true picture of the balance of our nature, we require a broad and objective assessment of the best available evidence, and that is what we have in this ground-breaking State of Nature report.

This important document provides a stark warning: far more species are declining than increasing in the UK, including many of our most treasured species. Alarmingly, a large number of them are threatened with extinction.

The causes are varied, but most are ultimately due to the way we are using our land and seas and their natural resources, often with little regard for the wildlife with which we share them.

The impact on plants and animals has been profound

Although this report highlights what we have lost, and what we are still losing, it also gives examples of how we - as individuals, organisations, governments - can work together to stop this loss, and bring back nature where it has been lost. These examples should give us hope and inspiration.

We should also take encouragement from the report itself; it is heartening to see so many organisations coming together to provide a single voice, stating loud and clear what is happening to our wildlife.

This partnership, backed by a combined membership of millions and enabled by the heroic efforts of thousands of volunteer recorders, provides a powerful force to bring the UK's nature back to its former glory.

State of the nature, England report:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/england_tcm9-345846.pdf

Iolo Williams:

Watch this to feel inspired, daunted, depressed, raging, emotional and driven.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnJQjtvngqA

Laura