What is the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)?
Q: What is the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)?
A: The RSPB is an organisation registered in Great Britain as a charity. It works to promote conservation and protection of birds and the wider environment, and operates nature reserves throughout the United Kingdom.
Q: When was it founded?
A: The RSPB was founded as the Plumage League in 1889 by Emily Williamson.
Q: How many members does it have?
A: The RSPB has more than a million members, including 150,000 youth members. It is the largest wildlife conservation charity in Europe.
Q: Who were its original members?
A: The original members of the RSPB were all women who campaigned against the fashion of wearing exotic feathers in hats.
Q: What did they campaign against?
A: They campaigned against the fashion of wearing exotic feathers in hats.
Q: Who supported them?
A: The society attracted support from some women of high social standing who belonged to the social classes that popularised feathered hats, including the Duchess of Portland (who became its first President) and Professor Alfred Newton, among others.
Q: Did they receive a Royal Charter?
A: Yes, they received a Royal Charter from Edward VII in 1904 which petitioned Parliament to introduce laws banning plumage use in clothing.
