Be a Guardian of a Nest

May 21st 2025

Last night, was witnessed something heartbreaking. Under the cover of darkness, Network Rail came through and cut down an entire line of trees—trees that were full of life. Birds were nesting in them. Watching parents circle in panic, crying out in terror as their nests, their babies, were destroyed in the shredder!

This isn’t just sad—it’s illegal. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is a criminal offence to damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it’s in use or being built. Yet this happens far too often, especially in spring and summer, when the land is tidied for aesthetics or access without thought for the wild lives within.

But here’s the hope: we can all be guardians of nest sites.

Not just in our own gardens, but in public spaces too—along footpaths, railway lines, in parks, or roadside hedgerows.

If you spot a nest—take a photo, mark the location, and let the relevant authorities know:

• Your local council

• Network Rail or utility companies

• Landowners or contractors

You don’t need to accuse—just inform. A simple note that “nesting has been observed here” can be enough to pause action until the season has passed and the birds have safely moved on.

To honour this deep connection we share with the wild, I painted this piece. It’s a vision of a tree spirit—its arms like human arms—cupping a precious nest. It’s a reminder that these birds are ours to care for, not possess, but protect. Like a mother would for her own children.

Let’s stand up, gently but firmly, for the voiceless.

Let’s become watchers, protectors, and guardians of the nests.

Pleae share this widely

#GuardiansOfTheNest #ProtectNestingBirds #WildlifeMatters #SpringIsForNesting #BeAVoiceForTheVoiceless