Birds are a great indicator species of healthy landscapes, and counting is a simple way to see the effect of conservation schemes – especially at this time of year.
Not only does time spent in nature give our mental wellbeing a boost, but the more diversity we experience the better it is for us.
In the second half of the 20th century, agriculture developed rapidly, and to become more efficient, fields were made larger and crops more densely grown. However, this has had a devastating effect on skylarks, with estimates that their population has halved since the early 1980s.
As Earth Day approaches, this week we’re sharing some of the ways that you can use your sightings to contribute towards conservation efforts at a national level