Young people and the RSPB

What do you think of when you hear the words ‘nature reserve’? If you think of silent bird hides, bearded men wearing camouflage and cameras, huge paragraphs of information on signs and being in the middle of nowhere, you would not be the first. But you would be wrong.

Photo: Sam Turley, RSPB Images

Nature reserves, in many ways, are simply areas reserved for nature. However, they are so much more than that. They are great days out for everyone, give opportunities to explore nature, provide ways to help wildlife and are even places that can help you add stuff to your CV! Nature reserves can be anywhere; they can be in cities, near factories, at the top of mountains or in the middle of the ocean.

What’s even better is you can help nature on your doorstep- not just on a nature reserve. In fact, tiny changes can make a huge difference!

Interested? We knew you would be…read on to find out more about what you can do to help nature, and how nature reserves could be a part of that.

You and Wildlife

Firstly, why should we care about wildlife?

Wildlife is both incredible and important. For example, did you know that about 90% of wildflowers and around 75% of crops depend on animals for pollination? That means for every 3 mouthfuls of food you take, one is there because an animal such as a bee pollinated it! 

Wildlife is not just important for us. Every species exists in an ecosystem, which is when all the living and non-living things in an area interact to create and maintain the conditions needed to support the wildlife that lives there. Changes to ecosystems that might seem minor to us can spell disaster for other animals and plants that live there. Cuckoos are well-known for their call and for their habit of laying their eggs in the nests of other birds. But have you ever seen one? Chances are you haven’t. This is probably because of several ‘big’ reasons (e.g. climate change) but also lots of ‘little’ reasons. These little reasons could be things affecting the birds that the cuckoo uses to raise its chicks. Or it could be getting rid of the plants that moth caterpillars feed on; as the Cuckoo feeds on these caterpillars, if the caterpillars aren’t there the Cuckoos won’t be either.

Of course, humans are also part of these ecosystems. What affects them also affects us. It could affect the food we eat, our mental health and wellbeing, the opportunities to discover new medicines and much more.

Ok, that’s the bad news over and done with. The good news is you are not powerless. There are things you can do to help nature, and there are also ways nature can help you. Read on to find out how!

You and RSPB Saltholme

If you are interested in wildlife, want to learn more and/or want to work in the conservation sector, RSPB Saltholme is the place for you! Saltholme is one of those nature reserves we were talking about earlier that is actually very close to cities and industrial areas- you can get the Number 1 Bus from Middlesbrough and it’ll drop you off right outside the entrance! What’s even better is, if you are between 16 and 24 years old and bring ID with you, you’ll get in for free.

Want to learn more about the wonderful wildlife in the world around you? As well as experiencing spectacular species face-to-face at Saltholme, you can also get involved with our events that enable you to experience the natural world in a way that suits you. Want to learn how to use bat detectors? Join one of the dusk walks! Want to be inspired by the shapes and colours of nature? Maybe the Mindfulness Art or Creative Writing Sessions are the ones for you. Want some incredible photography opportunities? The Soup and Starlings events, with the opportunity to witness spectacular Starling murmurations, are sure to be a winner. Remember that apprenticeships, universities and job prospects love to see you getting involved with an area of interest or learning new skills. Getting involved with our events is a great way to do this and gives you something to talk about in personal statements! Visit https://events.rspb.org.uk/saltholme for more information.

Another thing employers and further education love to see is initiative. Whether you find work, a voluntary position or an online course, there is always a way to gain important skills that increase your employability. Remember that it’s important to maintain balance- you can’t do everything and nobody expects you to. Instead, why not find something that gives you the best ‘value for money’ in terms of gaining skills and experience? If you’re wanting to enter the conservation sector, volunteering at RSPB Saltholme is a great place to start. If you join the Youth Rangers team (for ages 13-18 years), just one volunteering day a month could get you proven skills in:

• Teamwork
• Practical conservation work
• Communication
• Wildlife identification
• Timekeeping
• And much more!

If you have more spare time, maybe consider a more regular commitment. Maybe one day a week doing practical conservation work or helping lead family events. Maybe contact RSPB Saltholme to arrange a week’s work experience or to ask questions about working in conservation. There are so many things you can do to boost your CV!

Outside the nature reserve

Of course, helping wildlife is not just about putting things on an application form. It’s also critical for our planet and for our communities. What’s amazing is that this critical work can be done by anyone and everyone, and it doesn’t need to take up much of your time or money! Here are some ideas:

• Plant Wildflowers

Remember what was said earlier about bees and other pollinators being crucial for the survival of wildflowers and crops? Well, it works the other way round too! In order to have a healthy population of bees, butterflies and other insects, we need a healthy population of wildflowers. Even if you just put some seeds in a plant pot or create a window box, this creates important habitats for hungry bees and also boosts wildflower numbers. You don’t even need a garden!

More wildflowers mean more insects, and more insects mean more birds. So you see, small changes really can make big differences.

Photo: Mission Studios, 2022

• Create a pond

Access to water is essential for life. In fact, it’s so important that access to clean water is one of the human rights defined by the United Nations. Access to water is just as important for our wildlife, so creating a pond is a brilliant way of encouraging species into your local area.

If you have space, you could dig a wildlife pond- there is loads of helpful information available online. If you are bit shorter of time or space, something smaller is also useful! You could put out water dishes or fill a tub with water and see what ends up using it. Just remember to create a ramp or way back out of the tub/pond so wildlife can climb out if they fall in!

• Think about your use of plastic

Pollution is one of the five main causes of extinction. This includes plastic pollution and other forms of littering. So, by making sure you dispose of rubbish properly and reducing your use of plastic, you will be helping wildlife! What’s even better is re-using things often saves you money in the long run; buying a re-usable mug which you take with you instead of buying disposable cups each time often means cafes give you a discount on the drink you’re buying. Re-filling a water bottle instead of buying plastic bottled water is both cheaper and better for the planet.

Remember that you can now recycle plastic packaging at a lot of supermarkets, and hard plastics can be recycled at home. Talk to your friends and family about the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling- you’ll be amazed at the difference it can make!

• Give wildlife a home

Making space for nature is one of the best things you can do. Fancy a project? Why not make a bird box or bat box? Want to make space for hedgehogs? There is information available for that too! You could even get your friends involved for larger projects.

• Support conservation charities

Yes, this usually means giving money. But there are other ways you can support conservation. Following your favourite conservation charity online shows your support, as does sharing their posts. Visit your local nature reserves and wild spaces- the more people that visit them shows just how important they are and may help them access future funding. You could even ask your school, college or youth group to arrange a group trip to these places or to organise a talk with your chosen conservation charity.

Photo: Mission Studios, 2022

• Keep learning

This is just as important as getting directly involved with conservation. We are constantly learning more about the natural world and how best to help it. To make the best decisions and to give yourself the best chance in the conservation sector, learning as much as you can about wildlife and how to save it is crucial. Yes, you can attend courses or study this subject as part your formal education, but there are other ways too. Speak to your local conservation expert or a keen birdwatcher, read free journal articles online, find books in your local library, ask staff and volunteers questions when you next visit a nature reserve…this list goes on! 

So there you have it. Little changes made by you can have a huge, positive effect of wildlife and the natural world. It doesn’t need to cost the earth (in any sense) and you can start small. If everyone does their little ‘bit’ for nature, nature will thrive. So thank you for taking the time to read this, and best of luck in your future endeavours!

For more information check out these websites

Biodiversity loss: causes, consequences and solutions https://www.iberdrola.com/sustainability/biodiversity-loss 

The Wildlife Trusts (2024). Bitternhttps://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/birds/herons-egrets-spoonbill-and-crane/bittern 

The Woodland Trust (2024). Cuckoohttps://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/animals/birds/cuckoo/ 

United Nations (2024). Human Rights to Water and Sanitation https://www.unwater.org/water-facts/human-rights-water-and-sanitation 

World Wildlife Fund UK (2024). Top 10 Facts about Bees https://www.wwf.org.uk/learn/fascinating-facts/bees