Nature's Voice

The Big Garden Birdwatch results have arrived and in this episode of Nature's Voice we hear from the children of a Folkestone Primary school about what they did for their Big Schools Birdwatch.  We look at the ups and downs for this year's top ten birds in the survey plus the RSPB launches a new Centre for Conservation Science and Jane Markham talks to one of the scientists, Matthew Carroll, about his work investigating possible links between climate change and the declining populations of Kittiwakes. 

Some of the worst floods in living memory continue to cause huge problems in the south of England and this month's Nature's Voice talks to Jane Brookhouse, the RSPB's area site manager in Somerset.  Also, with National Nestbox week coinciding with London Fashion Week, some of the biggest names in fashion from Vivienne Westwood to Julien MacDonald have created some remarkable nestboxes and we've details of how you can see them and bid to own one to support nature. 

This year you can take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch on your phone, tablet or PC and for the first time you can also record some of the animals you find in your garden throughout the year. On this episode of Nature's Voice Jane Markham talks to Sarah Houghton who is running this year's count and meeting someone who took part in the very fist Big Garden Birdwatch back in 1979

The Turtle Dove, one of the symbols of Christmas, is in serious trouble. On this festive edition of Nature's Voice we hear from the RSPB's Simon Tonkin about what might be causing the massive decline in this beautiful and iconic bird in recent years and the launch of Operation Turtle Dove. Plus a look back at some of the highlights of 2013.

How do you get children to swap some of their TV and computer time for spending more wild time outdoors?  Project Wild Thing is a film led campaign which aims to do just that. It's backed by the RSPB and is made by  award winning documentary maker David Bond.  On this month's Natures Voice Jane Markham talks to David about how his family inspired him to make the film and how he played the marketing industry at its own game to 'sell' nature to children.

As wildlife presenter Miranda Krestovnikoff takes up her role as the RSPB's new President she talks to Jane Markham about her love of the natural world and how, at a time when nature is facing huge challenges, she hopes to inspire adults and children alike to do their bit to give nature a home.

Ospreys from Loch Garten are well on their way south. We know this from data received from the satellite tags worn by this year's youngsters Breagh and Oighrig. On this month's Nature's Voice Richard Thaxton, site manager at Loch Garten, looks back at a successful breeding season on the reserve and Jane Markham talks to the RSPB's Grahame Madge about the shocking numbers of migrating birds shot by illegal hunters on Malta. 

The first Big Wild Sleepout was a huge success if the experience of those who took part at the RSPB's reserve at Arne in Dorset is anything to go by. On this month's Nature's Voice we're packing our tents and munching on marshmallows as we spend a night seeking out grasshoppers, bats and nightjars. 

Linda Barker, interior designer and television presenter, gets creative in her garden for some new clients - the wildlife. It's all part of the launch of the Giving Nature a Home campaign. Also in this episode Jane Markham talks to Richard Bashford about the RSPB's first ever Big Wild Sleepout who suggests sleeping under the stars, toasting marshmallows and dressing up as squirrel to raise money for wildlife!

Sir David Attenborough has issued a call to arms in response the State of Nature report. In this month's podcast we hear how news of worrying declines in the natural world, highlighted in the report, has been received. 25 conservation organisations, including the RSPB, were involved in putting the report together and Jane Markham talks to the RSPB's Jonny Wright about a new campaign - Giving Nature a Home - to inspire us all to take up Sir David's challenge.

The State of Nature report, just published by the RSPB in collaboration with more than 20 other major conservation groups, provides alarming reading. It shows that more than half the UK’s native species are declining and a large number of those are threatened with extinction.  On this month's podcast Jane Markham talks to the RSPB's senior conservation scientist Dr Mark Eaton, one of the lead authors of the report, and Matt Shardlow, chief executive of Buglife, about the results and asks where we go from here.

Swallows,martins,cuckoos and many other summer visitors have yet to arrive this year and on this edition of Nature's Voice we hear from Bird's Magazine editor Mark Ward about why this might be. Plus Danae Sheehan - the RSPB's migrant's programme manager - talks about her work in West Africa, where many of these birds overwinter, why their numbers are declining and conservation projects involving local villagers which benefit both birds and people

The Big Garden Birdwatch 2013 shows sparrow and starling numbers continuing to decline and on this month's Nature's Voice we look at how saving nature starts at home in our gardens and window boxes. Jane Markham talks to the RSPB's Adrian Thomas - Homes for Wildlife blogger and gardening expert - about what to plant to give our birds, butterflies and bees a helping hand

How wildlife friendly is your garden? On this month’s Nature’s Voice we’re celebrating National Nestbox week from seven year old Henry’s point of view - with a little help from his mum and his grandmother. Plus RSPB wildlife advisor Ian Hayward has some top tips about how to choose the right nestbox for your garden and explains why they can really make a difference for the birds and animals around us.

It’s January already and  time for the world’s biggest annual bird survey - Big Garden Birdwatch!  Kate Long, author of ‘The Bad Mother's Handbook’  has taken part with her family for the last seven years. Her sons are now 15 and 12. As a wildlife enthusiast and nature blogger Kate tells Jane Markham that there's never been a better time to be a teenager with an interest in nature.  We'll also have tips and ideas for how you and your family can get involved and what to look out for.

After both drought and flood in 2012 for this month's Nature's Voice Jane Markham visits Otmoor - a wetland reserve in Oxfordshire - to find out how they are coping in this bleak mid winter. And we get tips from RSPB staff about how they prise their children away from their presents over the festive season to get them outdoors and enjoying the natural world around them. 

Mike Dilger - ecologist and natural history presenter - has a new book out, written for the RSPB. Wild Town aims to show children that wildlife is all around us in our towns and cities as well as in the countryside. Jane Markham talks to Mike about some of the animals and habitats to look out for on his ultimate urban safari. 

Are children today losing touch with nature? The RSPB is joining forces with academics from the University of Essex to find out how connected 8 to 12 year olds are to the natural world. On this edition of Nature's Voice, Jane Markham talks to the RSPB's chief executive Mike Clarke about the research and we hear from children and parents at a family Fun Day on a reserve with insights from TV psychologist Emma Kenny. Plus the winner of this year's RSPB Telegraph Nature of Farming Awards tells us how he has made his farm a haven for wildlife while running a profitable business. 

Sarah Outen - the first woman and the youngest person to row solo across the Indian Ocean - talks about the drama of her summer at sea and her support for the RSPB's work to save the albatross.  Her 'London to London via the World' challenge was cut short by a tropical storm but that didn't stop her kayaking around Mull later in the summer to see some fantastic wildlife. Plus this month's Step up for Nature gives details of how to make sure the fish we eat is caught sustainably and without threatening the world's endangered albatross populations. 

The finalists in this year’s Nature of Farming Awards have been selected and in this edition of Nature’s Voice we hear from all four of them and how they are working to protect nature on their farms. The Make Your Nature Count results are in and Jane Markham talks to the editor of the RSPB’s Birds magazine, Mark Ward, about the wildlife he sees from his home overlooking farmland.  Plus step up for nature by making your voice heard in the debate over EU funding for farmers.