GIANT CROSSWORD
ACROSS
1 Circus tent (3,3)
5 __ Stravinsky, Us-russian
composer (4)
8 Stevie __, US singer-songwriter (6) 10 When everything is considered (5,3) 14 Accepting (6)
16 Renders accessible (5)
22 Lighthearted musical drama (8)
23 Core of an atom (7)
24 Resumption (7)
26 Number featuring in the title of a
Joseph Heller novel (6-3)
27 Greek letter (4)
29 Spot (4)
30 Exclude (3)
31 Fight (3-2)
33 Musical symbol (4)
34 Scare (10)
35 Sacred book of Islam (5)
36 Beams (4)
39 Having attractive properties (8)
41 Jeopardy (6)
42 Noises (6)
43 Islamic God (5)
45 Topsy-turvy (6-4)
49 Units of weight (6)
51 Extra-terrestrial (5)
54 Unfit (3,2,5)
55 Fertilizer (4,4)
60 Give official recognition (8)
62 Pushover, submissive person
(figurative) (7)
63 Assumed name (5)
64 Planet’s path (5)
65 Scold (3) 68 Impair (3)
69 Sorcery (5)
71 1990 Patrick Swayze and
Demi Moore film (5)
72 Childish fit of rage (7)
75 Suddenly under the weather (5,3)
80 Single man (8)
82 Unlikely (10)
84 Vision (5)
86 Any Given __, 1999 Al Pacino film (6) 88 Building trade craftsperson (10)
91 Natural pigment (5)
93 Live (6)
95 Consents (6)
97 Suitable for retail (8)
100 Heroic tale (4)
102 Molars, e.g. (5)
103 Acquirable (10)
104 Ursine mammal (4)
106 __ Izzard, UK comedian (5)
109 Tin (3)
110 Vegetable (4)
111 Vomit (slang) (4)
112 Rash, quick (9)
114 Vocalise (7)
117 Vertical (7)
118 Guess (8)
119 Long (5)
120 Big cats (6)
121 Game bird (8)
122 Facial feature (6)
123 Sticks (4)
124 Sleeps noisily (6)
DOWN
2 Enforced (7)
3 __ Pratchett, UK fantasy author (5) 4 Kneecap (7)
6 Created (9)
7 Stones (5)
8 Cereal grass (5)
9 Hearing organ (3)
11 Not many (3)
12 __ Mack, UK comedian (3)
13 Release, drop (3,4)
14 Levy (5)
15 Devastating blow (8)
17 __ Capaldi, UK actor (5)
18 Oliver __, UK neurologist
and author (5)
19 Forerunner (9)
20 __ Frank, WW2 diarist (4)
21 Did wrong (6)
25 Fabric (5)
26 Pair of matching garments (4,3) 28 Cold weather ailment (9)
32 Possess (3)
33 Patterned with small squares (7) 37 Type of tree (3)
38 Bumper car (6)
40 Seat (5)
41 Desiccated (5)
43 Distressed (9)
44 African animal (abbr.) (5)
46 Water barrier (3)
47 Female deer (3)
48 Ancient sea battle featured in Shakespeare’s
Antony and Cleopatra (6)
50 Some (7)
52 Not a problem (2,7)
53 Chuckle (7)
54 Rock formation (7)
56 Confound (7) 57 Solitary (5)
58 Biblical character (4)
59 Hot drink (5)
61 Gearwheels (4)
66 Dull cries (6)
67 Affected (9)
70 Brief film appearance (5)
73 US state (6)
74 Director (7)
76 Leg joints (5)
77 Titles (5)
78 Part left (9)
79 __ Bevan, UK post-war Minister for
Health (3)
81 Chicken (3)
83 DCI Tom __, Midsomer Murders
detective (7)
85 Allotted (9)
87 Place in a seat of honour, crown (8) 89 Gratuity (3)
90 American record company (6)
92 Minor obstacles (7)
94 Ointment (5)
96 Extend (3)
98 Situates (7)
99 2015 Bond film (7)
100 Admission (5)
101 Edible flower bud (5)
103 Signs (5)
105 Anthony __, former UK PM (4)
107 Challenged (5)
108 Excited (5)
110 Caribbean dance (5)
113 Stitch (3)
115 Church seat (3)
116 Pigpen (3)
Birdwatch, you are helping to build an annual snapshot of how our birdlife is doing across the UK.
“It is only by us understanding how our wildlife is faring that we can protect it. We know that nature is in crisis but together, we can take action to solve the problems facing nature.”
Over the last 50 years, nearly 40million birds have vanished from the UK’S skies.
And it’s not just birds that are suffering. The latest State of Nature report found that around two-fifths of UK species are in decline including turtle doves, red squirrels and water voles.
The RSPB has a long and distinguished history, dating back to In 1889.
Emily Williamson created the Society for the Protection of Birds with one core aim – to fight a fashion for feathers and exotic plumes that were driving birds including little egrets, great crested grebes and birds of paradise towards extinction.
Her all-women movement was born out of frustration that the male-only British Ornithologists Union was not acting on the issue.
In 1904 the society was awarded a Royal Charter, making it the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
Eventually, the 1921 Importation of Plumage (Prohibition) Act was passed, marking the RSPB’S first successful campaign for nature.
Conservation has always been central to the RSPB and in 1930 the society bought its first nature reserve.
In 1947, Minsmere was made a reserve and avocets – once extinct in the UK – bred at both Minsmere and the nearby Havergate Island.
More reserves followed, and the RSPB now manages over 200 nature reserves across the UK, including many in East and West Sussex.
In 1965, the RSPB launched the Young Ornithologists Club (now known as the Wildlife Explorers) for young people, and in 1979, with a special slot on children’s TV show Blue Peter, launched the Big Garden
Birdwatch.
To take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch 2022, watch the birds in your garden or local park for one hour at some point over the three days. Only count the birds that land, not those flying over. Tell the RSPB the highest number of each bird species you see at any one time – not the total you see in the hour.
Beccy added: “Whether you saw one blackbird, 20 starlings or no birds whatsoever, it is really valuable information as it helps us build a picture of how our garden birds are faring from one year to the next.”
The parallel event RSPB Big Schools’ Birdwatch is running until February 21, 2022. In 2021, it celebrated its 20th anniversary of connecting children with nature in their school grounds.
Since its launch, over one million school children and teachers have taken part. Further information can be found at www.rspb.org.uk/ schoolswatch
For your free Big Garden Birdwatch guide, which includes a bird identification chart, top tips for your birdwatch, RSPB shop voucher, plus advice on how to help you attract wildlife to your garden, text BIRD to 70030 or visit www. rspb.org.uk/birdwatch.