Learn more about birds and wildlife this Easter with the RSPB at Chantry Place

This Easter, we are excited to welcome the RSPB to Chantry Place on select days throughout the school Easter holidays (4th, 7th, 8th and 13th April).

The RSPB is the UK’s largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to give nature a home and secure a healthy environment for wildlife.

Below, the RSPB write a guest blog for us about the history of the organisation and tell us the exciting, free activities they will have during the Easter holidays!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.

The movement grew in popularity and influence. So much so, that 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.

Today, we work in the UK and around the world. We carry out conservation work that you can see from space, built from the ground up. We protect habitats, save species, and help to end the nature and climate emergency. We do this through five main work areas: science, species, places, people and policy. We spend 90% of net income on conservation, public education and advocacy.

The natural world is being pushed to its limits and carrying on with the status quo simply isn’t an option. As an organisation, we are intensifying our efforts to have an even bigger impact.

The next decade will be vital for the future of our planet and our contribution has never been needed more. That’s why we’re taking the opportunity to evolve, building on what we’ve learned over more than 130 years to become a bolder, more influential voice for nature.

The RSPB is thrilled to be visiting Chantry Place on selected dates over Easter (4th, 7th, 8th and 13th April) when we will be sharing an exciting, family-friendly grow challenge! Drop by to pick up your free Sunflower Race Pack (subject to availability) and take part in your very own Sunflower Race at home! April is the perfect time to plant sunflowers! Whose sunflower will be the tallest? Whose will have the biggest flower? And whose will produce the most sunflower seeds to feed hungry garden birds?

Visit our ‘nature pod’ that will be outside House of Fraser on the lower ground floor next to HMV to pick up your pack, learn some amazing nature facts and discover more about the RSPB. Nature is in crisis. Together we can save it!

For more information on the events we have on at the Centre, please visit: www.chantryplace.co.uk/events