RSPB President and Ambassadors

Dr Amir has been a fantastic supporter of the RSPB, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic began. An NHS Doctor, living in Yorkshire, Dr Amir has been on the frontline of the pandemic for the past two years. Despite the huge pressures of his demanding job, Dr Amir frequently shares TV tips and posts on social media of the importance of caring for nature, whether that’s stocking his bird feeders - and importantly cleaning them - to feeding his resident hedgehogs, and sharing the benefits of his garden’s flowers and plants for pollinators. Dr Amir’s garden is home to an array of birds, from his favourite – bullfinches - to great spotted woodpeckers, and even sparrowhawks, which truly show the sign of a healthy ecosystem. 
 
Dr Amir also regularly discusses the importance of nature for our mental and physical health. As a doctor, Amir is able to speak with expertise on why access to nature and green spaces are so beneficial to us, something which became so apparent during the lockdowns.  

As well as sharing highlights from his incredible garden on social media, Dr Amir has supported numerous RSPB campaigns and events including Big Garden Birdwatch, Dawn Chorus Day, the Nature of Scotland Awards, the Revive Our World campaign, Love Minsmere and many other calls to action. He is passionate about birds of prey and has spoken out about the persecution of these majestic birds, especially around Yorkshire. 

Dr Amir has also enjoyed visiting RSPB reserves including Bempton Cliffs, where he witnessed first-hand the special seabird haven, as well as the important work carried out by the sites staff and volunteers. 
 
As well as being an ambassador for the Good Grief Trust, a charity which support newly bereaved people, Dr Amir is the supporter of a number of other wildlife and environmental organisations and is passionate about taking action to tackle the nature and climate emergency, while encouraging more and more people, of diverse backgrounds, to stand and speak up for nature, before it’s too late. As a devoted uncle and godfather, Dr Amir wants to ensure that the wildlife he treasures, is still here for future generations to enjoy. 

After a long career with RSPB Scotland, Dave’s probably best known for his time as the RSPB’s Mull Officer on the Isle of Mull. He saw his first White-tailed Eagle there on a birding holiday in 1980. He got to work on the reintroduction project protecting the first nests in 1984, and the first chick in 1985. Since starting as Mull Officer in 2003 he helped put Mull on the map as a top wildlife-watching tourism destination whilst always championing the eagles and working with a vast number of TV film crews. He worked on the first ever BBC Springwatch in 2005, broadcasting live from an eagle’s nest and on the first ever BBC’s One Show in 2006. His work has featured repeatedly on Springwatch, Autumnwater and Winterwatch ever since, alongside Chris Packham and Iolo Williams.

“I’ve seen from the inside how effective the RSPB is and that it really puts its money where its mouth is – fighting to protect all nature, especially our wild birds and habitats, at home and overseas. I’ll be forever grateful for the long career I’ve had with them and now want to give something back with my fellow Ambassadors to help promote and support their incredible work.”

“I don’t think I could cope with the everyday stresses and strains of life – not to mention the world news – without daily access to nature, wild places and wildlife. Here on Mull, I’m lucky enough to be able to escape into some of the most stunning and remote landscapes we have and to see some spectacular wildlife. But I get as much pleasure just by stepping out into the garden, being greeted by our crazily tame cheeky Robin each day and just breathing in some clean air. Whether it’s the Robin following me around the garden or a soaring White-tailed Eagle overhead, most things suddenly seem better and more manageable again.”

“Hmmm, I wonder? There are many favourites… but yes, the bird which has excited and inspired me from the start and to who I owe so much, has to be the White-tailed Eagle – ‘the eagle with the sunlit eye’ in Gaelic. They are the best.”

David Domoney is a Chartered Horticulturist, broadcaster and best-selling author. He is a Fellow of the Warwickshire College Group, a Fellow of the London Colleges of Horticulture at Capel Manor, and a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture. 

David currently co-presents Britain’s most viewed gardening show, ITV’s Love Your Garden. He has also been the resident gardening expert on ITV’s flagship show This Morning for over a decade. David’s love for garden birds is also well-known, sharing advice on ‘the living garden’ and the importance of supporting birds in the 433,000 hectares of British gardens.

“I understand the complex interaction of birds with the garden environment and their interactions with plants and insects, and I appreciate the love and passion gardeners have for our feathered friends. I believe in the great work the RSPB does and am always happy to support, such as on the Big Garden Birdwatch, encouraging more people to take part in this citizen science that helps us understand our bird populations and what we need to learn to help them thrive.”

“Ever since I was child I have been fascinated by plants and the wildlife that shared my garden. My mum and dad always encouraged me to learn more about nature and I do the same for my children. Birds, like many garden visitors, fill young minds with a sense of wonder that I believe will help us with key conservation efforts to improve our environments for the better and for generations to come. Above all we must remember that we share the planet with all creatures and plants. Only by preserving our delicate ecosystem can we be sure that our futures are secure.”

“Definitely the Robin, the gardener’s friend.”

Deborah is a business leader, investor, TV personality and writer, well known for her appearances on the BBC’s Dragon’s Den. Deborah supports ethical, fair practice both in business and in life believing that taking care of the environment and wildlife is essential for our future security and wellbeing.

“The RSPB plays an extremely important role in the understanding, protection and conservation of birds. By identifying the issues, protecting habitats and engaging with local and wider communities, the RSPB offers a platform where we can all do something to help our wildlife.”

“The best moments of my life have been when I have stood still amongst the natural world, listening and watching. I’ve watched the swallows swooping over our fields, dragonflies guarding their ponds and the whoosh of thousands of starlings flying overhead on their way back to roost. The natural world is wondrous, but instead of sharing her generosity we have taken too much for ourselves, allowing little room for our fellow creatures, plants and even the soils we grow food in. We take without giving back and at a pace the natural world simply can’t respond to. In destroying nature we ultimately destroy ourselves. We have an opportunity right now to change the way we live and to let nature repair at least some of the damage we have already done. But we need to change fast, before we pass the tipping-point and the natural world is damaged beyond repair.”

“That’s hard! The sight of 30 Cranes circling over our farm was special but at the other end of the scale, I do love a Wren.”

Indy is a naturalist living in the heart of Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire. Indy has been interested in nature from a young age which led him to volunteer weekly with the RSPB in Sherwood itself. Indy helps out with guided walks, talks and practical conservation work. Having been encouraged to share his photos and love for nature on social media, Indy has been featured on BBC Springwatch, an incredible experience which Indy says he will be forever grateful for.

“I have been volunteering with the RSPB since I was 12. I started in the welcome crew team in the Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre, before moving on to the outdoor work, co-leading guided walks, giving talks, but my favourite part is the practical conservation work. It is one of the most satisfying things I have ever done. Working with a fab group of fun and committed volunteers and enhancing the habitat is always the highlight of my week. It is made even better when species return or increase on site thanks to the work that we do. The RSPB have always supported me with the work I do on site as well as ex-situ work for press releases and small social media films.”

“The environment is everything we fundamentally rely on. It is not just responsible for the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe, but it is has also provided an invaluable solace for so many people at the times we needed it most. We all need to do our upmost to solve the nature and climate emergency because I, and so many other people of all ages, especially the young, are terrified for our future. In the summer of 2022, the UK experienced the hottest temperatures on record, I heard so many people saying they loved sitting outside and sunbathing and enjoying it. I didn't, all I could think about is, if its 40 degrees now when I'm 17, what will it be when I'm 60? Unless of course, we keep pushing for change. System change not climate change.”

“Goshawks.”

Lucy is a self-described nature nerd, naturalist and lover of all things wild. Working in conservation and campaigning, she's passionate about sharing nature joy - connecting people to the weird, freaky, beautiful and funny species we share our lives with through her informal writing.

“The people who make up the RSPB; staff, volunteers, members – are the people I owe so much of my journey with nature to. From them I learned so much. The places the RSPB manages are loved by so many people and to see their connections with a place and its nature is magic.”

“For me – nature is everything. It’s inextricable from us as a species, and it’s everything we rely on to survive. It’s also the biggest source of fascination, wonder, joy and love that I know. We’re in a bad situation and if we’re calling this a nature and climate emergency, we need to treat it like one. We must recognise how uncomfortable and difficult change will be, and do it anyway – now and urgently.”

“It changes with the seasons, the wind and the weather! Whoever’s singing at any moment could be my favourite. I have a fondness for Dippers, Swifts, Nightjars, Kestrels and Lapwings. But birds are brilliant and it’s impossible to settle!”

Megan is a zoologist, author and wildlife TV presenter on BBC Springwatch, Animal Park and Planet Defenders.

“To protect and support habitats and biodiversity, everybody needs to get involved. This is one of the reasons why I have always admired the RSPB, due to their ability to enthuse and connect with people, whether that be about bird song on Dawn Chorus Day or engaging in citizen science in the Big Garden Birdwatch. It doesn't matter whether the focus is a blue tit, a starling or a golden eagle, I’m always learning and am more motivated because of the RSPB’s campaigns.”

“This morning I took a step outside into the garden and found a red squirrel happily munching away on some peanuts. It stayed for a few seconds before looking up at my grinning face and bounding off into the forest. We share our planet with so many incredible species, but we often forget that we are part of that fragilely interconnected system too. We are the cause of climate change and biodiversity loss, but we can also be the solution - we just have to decide what kind of future we want. We might not have long to do it but that brief encounter with a red squirrel was enough to tell me we still have a lot left to fight for. So let's fight for it together.”

“Barn Owls have been a favourite of mine since I was a little girl, and I still get the same excitement watching them now as I did back then. There's something so majestic about watching them as the sun goes down. It's tricky to choose a favourite, but I'd have to say the Barn Owl is a strong contender! ”

Mya-Rose has been a passionate birder all her life, even setting up a birdwatching club when she started school aged four. She began her blog ‘Birdgirl’ when she was 11 years old, writing about her love of birds and encouraging her seven million readers to campaign about biodiversity loss and climate breakdown, in addition to the need to respect indigenous peoples’ rights and global climate justice.

Through her charity Black2Nature, Mya-Rose gives bird ringing demonstrations to the children who attend, allowing them the chance to see birds close up. Black2Nature also helps educate young attendees about mental health resilience, and the realities of climate change by making it relevant to them.

Growing up, Mya-Rose visited lots of reserves around the country looking for birds. But she almost never saw anyone who looked like her. So she came up with the idea of organising a birdwatching camp for visible minority ethnic teenagers, connecting them with nature, often for the first time. Black2Nature helps young people get outdoors to access nature at no cost to the attendees, including to Cameron’s Cottage within RSPB Franchises Lodge in the New Forest.

“I have supported the RSPB since taking part in my first Big Garden Birdwatch. Stopping biodiversity loss and especially ending the decline of bird numbers in the UK and around the world is incredibly important to me. I believe that as the largest nature conservation charity in Europe, the RSPB has an essential role in making change. Also, the RSPB’s network of nature reserves is vital in providing access to nature for all, something I consider to be a human right in the same way as the right to free education or health.”

“We cannot expect young people to care about the planet if they do not know anything about it. We need everyone on board if we are to stop climate change.”

“My favourite UK bird is the Kingfisher. They are arguably Britain’s most beautiful bird species and catching a glimpse of one at my village pond always makes my day. My favourite bird in the world is the Harpy Eagle, which I first spotted it in a bird guide about Ecuador when I was eight and immediately wanted to see one. It took me a further ten years to connect with one in the Brazilian Amazon. I was 17 and had finally seen half the birds species in the world. Catching sight of this huge eagle is my happiest moment!”

Nadeem Perera is a wildlife TV presenter, researcher and the co-founder of Flock Together. Nadeem advocates for diversity of perspectives in the conversations surrounding wildlife and social/climate activism in his TV work, as well as engaging future generations through sport.

“I’ve been a member of the RSPB for many years now and am so proud of this fact. Growing up in inner city East London, I was always itching to get out into vast open greenery that would allow my mind to run free and with spaces like RSPB Rainham Marshes and even further away sites like RSPB Arne, I am more than able to achieve that.”

“The natural world is the only world that exists and the idea that we need to reconnect with it is an illusion. We were never separate from it. Nature is us and we are nature. The fact that we think there is a disconnect is a testament to how ill we as a species have become; we cannot see that by harming the planet and its creations, we are only harming ourselves. Nature is to be loved and cherished as much as we cherish our friends and family. Then we can realise that we are all one big family under the roof of nature and her love.”

“The Carrion Crow. Their intelligence wins me over on a daily basis and I can always relate to being a figure subject to negative connotation when really and truly I'm just black, smart and love hanging out with mates.”

Ollie is the co-founder of Flock Together and founder of social impact creative agency, Futurimpose. Ollie has built social responsibility into every facet of his work, pioneering meaningful ways to enact change and rethink narratives in nature through Flock Together. 

Empowering marginalised individuals and communities in all he does, Ollie is passionate about creating new systems and using creativity as problem solving for the next generation.

“The RSPB has incredible reach which we saw first-hand through our content collaboration around the origins of bird names. Together, I believe we can make a big difference over the coming years.”

“To attract a much-needed new audience to the conservation space we need to bring innovation and excitement. Why can't nature be sexy? We're here to change that. The time for talking has long passed us by, it's time for fresh new action.”

“My favourite bird to see has to be the Blue-bellied Roller that's native to Gambia, West Africa.”

Rachel is an award-winning wildlife photographer whose heart belongs to seabirds and the islands, cliffs and coastlines they call home. Her passion is rooted in the sights and sounds of the wild. There’s nothing she loves more than the sight of Northern Gannets diving into the deep blue sea, the sound of Arctic Terns heralding the return of summer, the haunting call of Arctic Skuas echoing along Shetland shores, or the fierce and mysterious presence of a Northern Fulmar as it glides into the horizon. These moments inspire her work that combines artistic creativity with a scientific understanding of her subjects, offering viewers a unique glimpse into the lives of seabirds. A long-time supporter of the RSPB, Rachel has been a contributor to RSPB Images, the RSPB’s image library, for several years.

“I support the RSPB because their vital work in conserving birds and habitats addresses the urgent challenges facing wildlife today. Having witnessed firsthand the devastating impacts of avian influenza and the rapid spread of the disease, I understand the critical need for collaboration to prevent future crises. Through my photography, I harness the power of storytelling to connect global audiences to the forefront of conservation, raising awareness and inspiring action. I see how a single image can foster a deep connection between people and nature, which makes the RSPB an invaluable partner in reaching new audiences and expanding the impact of their shared mission.”

“Seabirds are facing unprecedented challenges driven by human activity – overfishing causing food shortages, discarded fishing gear entangling birds, plastic pollution, climate change, and the devastating spread of diseases like avian influenza. Now, more than ever, we must come together to protect and conserve these extraordinary species. Their future hinges on the actions we take today. Together, we can amplify the urgent call to safeguard these remarkable birds and their habitats, ensuring they continue to thrive and bring the same joy and wonder to others that they have given me for generations to come.”

“My favourite bird is a Northern Gannet, a bird that is everything all at once—fiercely independent yet so gentle in love; chaotic, yet impossibly graceful; strong enough to brave winter storms yet return home to softly raise one precious chick each and every summer.”

Sam is a social media creator, sustainability advocate, and storyteller who creates videos making environmental progress accessible and inspiring. Recognised on Forbes 30 Under 30, and shortlisted as bCreator of the Year 2024, known as the 'Oscars for creators', Sam has built a global following by sharing stories of innovative solutions and positive change that address some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

With over a decade of experience in social media, Sam uses his platform to connect millions with stories of hope, progress, and achievable solutions.

“For me, birdwatching is one of the most accessible ways to connect with nature. Birds can be found in every corner of the UK, making it easy for anyone to start noticing and appreciating the world around them. It’s a great stepping stone into conservation, when you realize how pesticides, land use, urban developments, or polluted waterways can impact bird populations, you naturally start becoming more considerate of these broader environmental issues. It helps you see how everything is interconnected and makes you more in-tune with other environmental topics. The RSPB does a fantastic job of helping people make these connections and encouraging them to care for the environment.”

“It can feel overwhelming when we’re constantly confronted with doom and gloom on our news and social media feeds. But positive change is happening, and by focusing on it, we can shift the narrative from despair and inaction to one of hope and momentum. Every decimal of a degree of warming we prevent makes it easier for wildlife to adapt to a warming world. Every acre of land we protect becomes a safe haven for thousands of creatures. It’s all worth fighting for—and by celebrating the progress being made, we can inspire more people to be part of the solution.”

“For sentimental reasons, it’s got to be the Blue Tit. My nan always had them visit her bird feeders in the garden, and they bring back such fond memories of her, even though I lost her at a young age. More recently, I walked the North Norfolk Coastal Route and I saw my first-ever Short-eared Owl, which is actually the first owl I’ve ever seen so I was so hyped!” 

Samuel is an actor and sometimes a director, and a keen birder for nearly twenty years. Samuel currently plays Siegfried Farnon in All Creatures Great and Small on Channel 5. 

“Until birds get their act together and organise their own pressure groups, I suppose we’ll just have to do it for them. With nature under unprecedented attack, the RSPB shows those in power what a huge and vocal nature lobby can do to change things.”

“Our two young daughters love nature, and watching birds in particular. But the world they’ll inherit is in trouble. Half of all bird species worldwide are in decline. Biodiversity isn’t just a nice thing to have, it’s essential for the survival of humanity and the planet.”

“The Dipper. I love its design modifications: solid bones, a swimming-goggle extra eyelid and tiny wing-flicks to help it walk underwater. I also like its fearless hunting habit, throwing itself into the stream like a romantic poet after a bad breakup.”

Steve is a broadcaster, Paralympian, public speaker, mentor and coach. RSPB supporters may be most familiar with Steve as a regular correspondent for BBC Countryfile. 

In 2005 Steve became paralysed when he fell from a balcony and broke his neck. Soon after, he was introduced to wheelchair rugby and in 2012 he captained Great Britain at the London Paralympic Games.

More recently, Steve has also been given opportunities to indulge his fascination with the natural world and has worked for the BBC, on both Springwatch and Blue Planet UK. In April 2017 he became the latest member of the BBC's Countryfile team. He remarked that “it is worth every flat tyre, every muddy set of hands, every wet lap… I want to be judged on my performance. I’m hoping people will see it’s about ability, not disability.” 

“The RSPB has always had a place in my life. I can remember my dad taking me across their reserves as a young boy, bird book and binoculars in hand. I’ll never forget my excitement as I ticked off what I’d seen. At that age it wasn’t about the rarity of the bird, it was about the variety. Seeing so many different types of bird in different habitats and learning where they fitted in our ecosystem amazed the 10-year-old me.” 

“I grew up spending a lot of time in the countryside. Rambling through forests and looking for fossils on the beach. Every family outing was an adventure. Trees, seas, and skies all need to be protected so generations can still enjoy the world as I did as a young boy.”

“I love birds of prey. Watching the Marsh Harriers in such high numbers on Sheppey is fantastic.”