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Help Turtle Doves sing again

This Christmas, send a message of hope for Turtle Doves to the Government's Environment and Farming Ministers.

Share your message of hope

With numbers plummeting by 99% since the 1960s, it looked as though ‘two Turtle Doves’ might become the reality. But now, there’s hope.  

England’s nature-friendly farmers are giving Turtle Doves a lifeline, creating the habitats they need to thrive in their summer breeding grounds on lowland farms. To scale up this vital work, farmers need more support from the UK Government through ambitious, well-funded agri-environment schemes. 

Use our tool to send a personal, festive message of support for Turtle Doves to new DEFRA Ministers Emma Reynolds and Angela Eagle. Your voice can help encourage them to make nature-friendly farming a top priority. 

Not only will they each receive your message by email, but we’ll also hand deliver them a giant Turtle Dove Christmas card! Together, we’ll help Turtle Doves sing again. 

What should I include in my message?

We're asking RSPB supporters to send messages of support for Turtle Doves because we know politicians take views from the public seriously. We want Emma Reynolds and Angela Eagle - new Ministers in the UK Government - to hear directly from nature lovers so they put nature at the heart of their plans. 

Speak from the heart 

In your message, share why you want to see more government action to help threatened farmland wildlife like Turtle Doves. Share your story: maybe you grew up listening to Turtle Doves every summer and you want to make sure your grandchildren get the same privilege. Perhaps, for you, time spent in nature is your ray of light in what can be a challenging world. Or maybe you care deeply about addressing the climate and nature emergency and you know that farmers have a big role to play. 

Nature-friendly farmers are getting the UK ‘Turtle Dove ready’  

Alongside projects like Operation Turtle Dove, nature-friendly farmers are working to secure the future of Turtle Doves. They’re creating seed-rich plots for food, safe places to nest, and ponds for drinking. This is giving Turtle Doves a fighting chance. But farmers need government funding to continue doing this work, and that's why we're asking you to share a message with the Ministers. We need Ministers to hear loud and clear that the public wants to see these special birds - and the nature-friendly farmers who are helping them - given more support. 

Why are Turtle Doves in trouble?  

Find out more about Turtle Doves in our Species Spotlight. 

 
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