Daily Express

‘Help save our birds from climate crisis’

- By Steph Spyro

WE MUST act now to avert a climate disaster, the boss of the UK’s largest nature conservati­on charity has warned.

Britain is in a green crisis, confirmed Beccy Speight, chief executive of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

She said: “Our wildlife is disappeari­ng in front of our eyes. In order to avert disaster, we must now not only protect what remains but also restore what has been lost.”

In light of the emergency, the Daily Express has partnered with Ecotalk to help the RSPB to buy a 94-acre plot of land called Horse Common in the New Forest.

It will be transforme­d into a safe haven for wildlife such as otters and birds including redshanks and nightingal­es.

Beccy said: “The purchase of Horse Common would allow us to restore an important piece in the rich tapestry of the New Forest’s fabric and help connect other

parts of the wood and heathland, creating a lasting home for wildlife.

“Ancient woodlands are special, the cathedrals of our natural world.

“Old woods are good woods for nature

because they provide such a rich and complex habitat.”

Ornitholog­ist and environmen­tal activist Mya-Rose Craig, 20, is backing the appeal to buy the sanctuary for nature. Mya-Rose, also known as “Birdgirl”, said: “Their plans for the Common are fantastic and once they have carried out the necessary conservati­on work, I am sure that Horse Common will be teeming with living things again and completely rejuvenate­d.

“I would really urge you to donate if you are able to, so that the RSPB can buy the reserve, to make this site beautiful again, and give access to the public to enjoy.”

Mya-Rose became the youngest Briton to be awarded an honorary degree at 17 when the University of Bristol bestowed the accolade in February 2020.

She is also believed to be the youngest person in the world to have seen half of the world’s bird species.

The British-Bangladesh­i set up Black2Natu­re, with the aim of giving Visible Minority Ethnic (VME) communitie­s equal access to the natural environmen­t.

She said: “I have been birding all my life and love being out in nature.”

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