Campaigns Update

Connecting with nature and the countryside on our doorstep has been vital to the wellbeing of millions of us during the pandemic.

Our poll with the Women’s Institute shows that more than half of people feel more aware of the wellbeing benefits of green spaces, and two-thirds think that protecting and enhancing these green spaces should be a higher priority for the government after lockdown.

Going back to business as usual is not an option – we have to build back better and prioritise protecting and enhancing the open spaces we all enjoy.

Have you noticed a resurgence of birdsong during lockdown?

Tuning in to the dawn chorus – nature’s free concert – can really lift our spirits, providing those little bursts of happiness that we all need in these difficult times.

If you can’t hear them outside, we’ve put together a short video with 3 minutes of pure birdsong delight for you all to enjoy.

If you want to try and identify the calls you can hear, check out our guide to common birds you can hear from home.

The government has suggested that they are likely to lift the 60-year ban on sky-writing (writing messages in the sky with vapour trails from planes).

We’re calling for an urgent rethink. Now more than ever, we’re all aware of the need for peace and tranquillity when spending time in the countryside.

Advertising is everywhere and it’s vital for our wellbeing that we can escape this when we’re in the countryside. Our skies must be kept advert-free.

Wildflowers are emerging from the undergrowth to cover the countryside in flashes of brilliant colour. Even while our time in the great outdoors is curtailed, we can still find extraordinary natural beauty in the most ordinary places.

Wildflower expert Peter Marren shares some of his favourite spring and early summer blossoms and offers hints on where to find them close to home.

'It’s a brilliant thing that I’ve been able to use my love of the natural world in my work'

One of Britain’s best-loved comedy stars, Mackenzie Crook, tells us why he loves wildlife-spotting, how the countryside has inspired his work, and why might have been a hedgelayer in another life...

Last month I shared with you some of our staff’s favourite books about the countryside and nature.

This month, we’re taking a look at the stories that sparked their love for the countryside as children or young adults.

If you’re searching for stories to inspire any restless young people you have at home, look no further.