'Fantastic advocates for Nature' - RSPB publishes list of its favourite 36 'celebrities' and 'influencers'

                                                     

Alison Steadman - enthusiastic birdwatcher

ACTRESS Alison Steadman has been named by the RSPB in a list of 36 "celebrity and influencer supporters".

Others include the self-styled 'Urban Birder', David Lindo, and actor Sam West, plus TV gardener Monty Don and BBC Springwatch presenters Michaela Strachan and Iolo Williams.

They are described as "fantastic advocates for Nature".

Says the charity: "We should like to thank them for supporting our campaigns, events and projects over the past year." 

The full list is as follows:

○ Mya Bambrick

○ Carl Bovis

○ Steve Brown

○ Gordon Buchanan

○ Gillian Burke

○ Lindsay Chapman

○ Mya-Rose Craig

○ Lizzie Daly

○ Mike Dilger

○ David Domoney

○ Monty Don

○ Indy Kiemel Greene

○ George Hassall

○ Lucy Hodson

○ Kabir Kaul

○ Dr Amir Khan

○ David Lindo

○ Kate MacRae

○ Dara McAnulty

○ Megan McCubbin

○ Deborah Meaden

○ Stephen Moss

○ David Neilson

○ David Oakes

○ Ollie Olanipekun

○ Lev Parikian

○ Nadeem Perera

○ Ben Porter

○ Alison Steadman

○ Hannah Stitfall

○ Michaela Strachan

○ Arlene Stuart

○ Dougie Vipond

○ Samuel West

○ Iolo Williams

○ Hamza Yassin

The Wryneck says: There is something strange - disquieting  even - about the RSPB's decision to draw up a list of 'influencers'. No disrespect to those named (some of whom may well be embarrassed by their selection), but in the world of conservation, are we not all equal? To create an upper-echelon category of VIP 'celebrities' does an injustice to all those ordinary members and staff who shun the limelight but whose contributions are, in many cases, likely to be of far more lasting significance and value.