RSPB: Bring the life back to our countryside

Bring the life back to our countryside When you picture the countryside, what do you see? Rolling green hills alive with the sights and sounds of wildlife? Trees full of birdsong? Insects buzzing between hedgerows? Butterflies flitting from flower to flower? Our countryside is iconic, inspiring countless books, songs and poems. But things aren’t quite as they seem. Help stop the declines Changes to farming techniques over the last 40 years, driven by EU policy, have had a devastating impact on nature. Numbers of birds like turtle doves, lapwings and skylarks have declined by over 50% since the 1970s. These and many more of the UK's most loved species are disappearing at a terrifying rate - and could soon be lost forever without your help. But now more and more farmers are asking for our support and advice to help put things right. Let's think bigger Saving wildlife in the UK countryside has been one of the RSPB's top priorities for the past 20 years, and we've taken huge strides forward in that time. We’re finding ways to help reverse the declines of farmland birds, and sharing these techniques with farmers across the UK. We already have a team of expert advisers and a band of dedicated volunteers. But to reverse the decline of our cherished birds and other wildlife we need to think bigger... and we need your help to make this happen. We know we can do it We need more staff to get out in their wellies on farmland across the UK, to share effective and practical ways of making farms more wildlife-friendly. And we've identified 24 areas where we believe focusing our advice will make a big difference. We're passionate about this approach, because we know it works. Recent successes with stone-curlews, corncrakes and cirl buntings have proved it can be done. With your help, we can support people to come together to help wildlife. Our team will work alongside them every step of the way, but the farmers and the volunteers from their local communities will be the real heroes. Your chance to help This renewed effort to tackle this huge problem will cost £1 million. We’ve already secured £150,000 from the EU LIFE+ fund, which leaves us £850,000 short. We can’t do this vital work without your help, so if you can, please donate today. Nature is declining right across our countryside, but by stepping up for nature and donating £20, or whatever you can afford, you can help us bring the life back. Thankyou! Nick Droy Head of RSPB Conservation Management Advice PS If you've already donated to this appeal, thankyou for your support Donate now