27 May 2016
On a sunny day in May Boston and Skegness MP Matt Warman, species champion for the Redshank, visited RSPB Frampton Marsh to help monitor breeding Redshank. Coverage in the local newspaper, the Boston Standard, can be read here.
Latest Species Champions News
A Nightingale sang in Northward Hill
19 May 2016
Kelly Tolhurst, species champion for the Nightingale took part in an evening walk to hear the birds singing at the RSPB’s Northward Hill reserve. During the walk Kelly was presented with her species champion poster and learned about threats to the nightingale’s habitat.
First bat champion recruited
18 May 2016
The Bat Conservation Trust secured its first species champion. Peter Heaton-Jones, MP for North Devon, will be supporting conservation of the greater horseshoe bat.
Moth champion visits local reserve
13 May 2016
Butterfly Conservation’s champion for the Striped lychnis moth, Steve Brine, visited their Magdalen Hill Down Reserve near Winchester where small numbers of this moth can still be found.
Tansy beetle visit for York champion
06 May 2016
In early May Rachael Maskell, Labour MP for York Central, visited Clifton Ings alongside the River Ouse in York to catch a glimpse of the rare Tansy beetle.
Bittern champion at Minsmere
06 May 2016
Dr. Therese Coffey MP, champion of the bittern, visited RSPB Minsmere to learn more about her species and see what is being done to improve the resilience of Suffolk’s reedbeds in the face of climate change. During her visit, the RSPB presented Dr. Coffey with a unique bittern picture, selected as the winning entry in a children’s art competition at Minsmere.
Benyon visits the Snake’s head fritillary
01 May 2016
Plantlife took Richard Benyon MP, the species champion for the snake’s head fritillary, to see the plants flowering at Stanford Mill Meadows in Berkshire. More information can be found on Plantlife’s website here.
Derek Thomas MP agrees to champion the Manx shearwater
23 April 2016
Derek Thomas, MP for St Ives in Cornwall, visited the Isles of Scilly to see the incredible work being done to reverse the declines in seabirds. He agreed to champion the Manx shearwater, one of the bird species benefitting from the removal of rats from the Islands.
Puffin gains an MP champion
22 April 2016
Following a visit to RSPB Bempton Cliffs, Kevin Hollinrake MP, became a species champion for the puffin to help raise awareness of the plight of this endangered seabird.
Species champions scheme launched
01 March 2016
The formal launch of the species champions’ project took place at Westminster on 1 March 2016. The 20 MP species champions were invited to drop in and receive a poster of their adopted species and to talk to the project team.
