With 40 million fewer birds today than in 1966 (Report, 29 April), the UK is one of the most nature-deprived countries in the world. Nature is falling silent, and the impact on our environment, culture, health and happiness should not be underestimated.
Nature’s influence runs through the fabric of our culture, its creations woven into myth and legend. Birds in particular have been revered in every age. From the Bard to the Beatles and Elgar to Emin, birds have inspired works of music, art, the written and spoken word, while naturalists from Darwin to Attenborough have shared the lives of these remarkable creatures with us, ensuring their status as national treasures for eternity.
Nature is written into our DNA; we are part of it. All of us benefit from taking time to pause and reconnect with the natural world. As creatives, nature is our muse, fuelling our imagination and guiding our paintbrush, pen and camera lens.
But nature is in crisis. It hasn’t been prioritised in political decision-making, and now we are paying the price. The next two years will be critical: in 2020, world leaders will meet in Beijing at a global summit to save nature. We call on the UK government to play a world-leading role in nature’s recovery. We have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to do so.
This Sunday marks International Dawn Chorus Day, the perfect time to enjoy the feathered orchestra outside your window. You might be lucky enough to hear the vocal acrobatics of the nightingale, the soaring song of the skylark or the blackbird’s beautiful solo. Nature’s extraordinary wake-up call should set alarm bells ringing for all of us. If we don’t want to lose it, we need to act now – before it’s too late, and let nature sing.
In the words of Shelley’s To a Skylark: “The world should listen then, as I am listening now.”
Ackroyd & Harvey Artists
Alison Steadman Actor
Alison Tickell Director, Julie’s Bicycle
Andrew Kötting Artist and film-maker
Ann Cleeves Writer
Anoushka Shankar Sitar player and composer
Axel Scheffler Illustrator
Ben Rivers Artist
Bill Oddie Naturalist, conservationist, TV presenter, writer, songwriter, musician
Brian Blessed Actor
Brian Briggs Singer-songwriter and conservationist
Carol Ann Duffy Poet
Catrin Finch Harpist, arranger and composer
Charlotte Mendelson Novelist
Chris Packham Broadcaster and campaigner
Corinne Bailey Rae Singer-songwriter
Cornelia Parker Artist
Crissie Rhodes Singer-songwriter and member of The Shires
David Arnold Film composer
David Domoney Horticulturist and broadcaster
Deborah Borg Brincat Singer-songwriter and member of Berne
Dr Lori Watson Musician/lecturer (University of Edinburgh)
Ed O’Brien Guitarist, singer-songwriter and member of Radiohead
ELIZA Musician
Emily Portman Singer, songwriter and musician
Eurielle Singer-songwriter
Evelyn Glennie Solo percussionist
Fran Healy Singer-songwriter and member of Travis
Gary Hume Artist
Grayson Perry Artist and film-maker
Hazell Dean Singer, songwriter and producer
Ian McEwan Novelist and screenwriter
Inbali Iserles Writer and animal lover
Jackie Kay Poet and author
Jackie Morris Artist, writer, mother
Jeremy Deller Artist
Jeremy Pritchard Everything Everything
Jimi Goodwin Singer, songwriter and musician
Joan Armatrading Singer, songwriter, producer
Joe Harkness Writer
Joe Pasquale Comedian
Julie Fowlis Folk singer and multi-instrumentalist
Karen Maitland Author
Kate Mosse Novelist
Kathy Lette Author
Kitty Macfarlane Singer, songwriter and guitarist
Lemar Singer-songwriter and producer
Lucie Caswell CEO, Featured Artists Coalition
Lucy Pullin Singer-songwriter
Marcus Coates Artist
Marina Lewycka Author
Marina Warner Writer
Martin Noble Guitarist and member of British Sea Power
Martin Parr Photographer
Matt Merritt Editor, Bird Watching Magazine
Mike Clarke CEO of the RSPB
Mike Dilger Naturalist and broadcaster
Mike Rosenberg aka Passenger Singer-songwriter and musician
Miranda Krestofnikoff Presenter, diver, author and president of the RSPB
Neil Gaiman Author
Nick Mason Drummer and member of Pink Floyd
Nick Mulvey Singer-songwriter and musician
Olivia Chaney Folk singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist
Patrick Barkham Writer and journalist
Robert Macfarlane Author
Roxanne de Bastion Singer-songwriter
Rumer Shirakbari Singer-songwriter
Sam Lee Folk singer and nature conservationist
Sam Sweeney Folk musician
Samson Kambalu Artist
Sandie Shaw Singer
Seb Rochford Composer, drummer, producer and member of Polar Bear
Seth Lakeman Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist
Shaun Keaveny Broadcaster
Shirley Collins Folk singer
Antony Gormley Sculptor
Stephen Moss Nature writer, broadcaster and producer
Stuart Semple Artist and curator
