RSPB launch new fundraising campaign for children

• May. 4 by Emma Dando (0)

Children across the United Kingdom are being asked to help set up safe places for sea creatures to live and breed.

The RSPB have launched their new youth fundraising campaign ‘I’m on the sea’s side’ to raise awareness of how sea creatures desperately need our protection to survive.

There are currently very few nature reserves at sea even though there are hundreds on dry land. This means that many marine creatures aren’t getting the level of protection they need. The main threat to their survival is from human activity.

Children of all ages are being asked to take part in fundraising activities to raise money for the campaign. Ideas include sponsored walks and runs, cake sales and sponsored silences.

The money will be going to help creatures such as pelicans, seahorses, dolphins, crabs, starfish and seabirds amongst many others.

Why the campaign was launched

New laws have come into practice which states the UK, Scottish and Welsh governments need to create more marine reserves.

The main aim of the campaign is to push for the governments to actually create these nature reserves in order to give the wildlife the best chance of recovery and survival possible.

Half of the UKs wildlife is situated in the sea but only 0.0008% of it is protected. There are sections of the sea which have been dedicated ‘No Take Zones’ which means that any commercial activity that may damage the animals and environment is completely banned.

The RSPB will be working alongside experts to identify the most endangered areas of the ocean that need to be protected. These areas will hopefully then get the protection needed to let the sea creatures live and breed in a safe environment, much like nature reserves on land currently do.

What’s happening in the Midlands

A selection of the Midlands based RSPB branches are working with local schools and groups to connect them to the campaign.

Leslie Nundy from the Youth & Education department of the RSPB said the main aim of working with schools was about ‘raising awareness of the issues facing sea creatures through a network of Wildlife Explorer School Clubs, Community Groups and RSPB Bird Friendly schools.’

Although there isn’t an age limit on who can take part in the campaign, the emphasis is predominantly on getting children involved.

Leslie said:

‘It can be hard to connect children directly to major conservation concerns.

Raising money is one way of doing that and helps reinforce to children that nature conservation is a costly business as well as engaging and educating them through information and activities.’

The money raised will go towards the research and the cost of setting up the protected areas. ‘Every participant receives a thank you letter; certificate and exclusive stickers’ in return for their hard work on the ‘I’m on the sea’s side’ project.

For more information and downloadable fundraising packs visit  RSPB.