NEW WARNING FROM THE RSPB

Imagine if your favourite wild place was suddenly lost to make a new airport or a power station. Right now, we are fighting to stop this happening in Kent. An airport is threatening to ruin the tranquillity of RSPB Dungeness nature reserve. This is a precious site for wildlife and we are doing our bit at the Lydd Planning Inquiry to give this special place, loved by so many people, a future. This is a huge case but it's not the only harmful development we're fighting. Spectacular landscapes and important wildlife sites are regularly threatened by a whole range of proposals that could harm them. We're currently involved in over 2,000 cases across the UK. Each one involves a special place that is home to wildlife and loved by people like you. Where nature needs us, we won't give up. Fighting with all we've got In Scotland, developers are planning to build a huge, polluting, coal-fired power station at Hunterston. We're fighting this plan with all we've got! Further south, thousands of estuary plants and animals are under threat from energy schemes in the Severn and the Mersey. Tidal power is a huge opportunity but we're determined to reach a solution that doesn't destroy vital places for wildlife. We do not oppose all development. We appreciate that the UK's energy, housing and other needs are growing. That's why we prefer to work with developers and local and national governments to find solutions that benefit everyone. A long, hard fight Each major case involves hundreds of hours of work. Teams of experts research, write responses to planning proposals and, where necessary, put our arguments at public inquiries. A case can last for months or even years, and we desperately need money to fund this work. When we save special places, though, the long, hard slog is worth it. We fought against a port development at Dibden Bay in Southampton Water that, in 2004, was refused following a long public inquiry. Since then we have worked even more closely with the ports industry to resolve, wherever possible, potential problems early on. In 2008, a proposal to build a highly damaging 181-turbine wind farm on the Isle of Lewis was refused following years of campaigning by the RSPB. Our work helps to ensure most wind farm proposals pose no significant threat to birds and can help tackle climate change. If you received a letter and have already donated to this appeal, I'd like to thank you on behalf of the RSPB. If not, please step up for nature and help us to save special places by donating £25 to our Nature Fighting Fund. With your help, we can continue to protect wild landscapes for the future. Nature needs you - please donate today. Brian Cleary Head of Casework

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