My RSPB Membership Unboxing: What's Inside & Why It's Worth It!

If you remember, I mentioned that the last time we went to Loch Lomond, we signed up for the RSPB membership (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds). This includes free parking at all reserves covered by them. I want to share what the package came with for you all. It arrives in a brown envelope, not bulky, more like a file-type brown cardboard envelope with four corners.

What's Inside My RSPB Welcome Pack?

Here is a list of things that you get when you sign up for RSPB membership here in Scotland:

• Book Cover: This is a green book cover that holds other items. It's titled "Welcome to your RSPB Membership" with the RSPB logo on it and features a cute, innocent-looking bird standing on a stick.

• Get Started and Make the Most of Your Membership: This section has a thank you note at the beginning and talks about RSPB, their goals, and membership benefits. It highlights that you are a voice for nature and that you will receive the RSPB Membership magazine packed with news about birds and nature, along with ideas on what you can do to benefit wildlife in your homes and gardens.

  You gain access to 170 reserves and enjoy free parking and nature. I, for one, have benefited from this, and I must say they are doing a good job with preserving nature and making it worthwhile each time we visit. Another benefit is receiving member discounts on some events at their nature reserves. You can see more events on rspb.org.uk/events for more information. There is also contact information listed in the magazines.

Diving into the RSPB Magazine

When you open it, you see the RSPB magazine, whose tagline is "Taking action for nature together." Depending on the year and season, we received the Spring/Summer 2025 issue. Its lead article, "Where Eagles Dare," highlights how the white-tailed eagle has made an incredible comeback.

The magazine also focuses on wetlands, with articles like "Stop the Killing: The Fight Against Crime Continues," and "Mist and Mysteries: Discover the Unique and Ancient Rathlin Island." Ben Andrew, an award-winning photographer, also shared his favorite species and places. He noted that the Jay is his favorite UK bird; he also likes the Turtle Dove, Dipper, and Mountain Hare, all explained further in the magazine.

Nurturing a Love for Nature

The magazine also focuses on raising children who love nature, and this is incredibly important. For example, in Lagos, Nigeria, and many other countries, there has been an abuse of nature, with trees being cut down, preventing the ecosystem from functioning normally. For some construction companies, it's solely about the money; they fell any tree just to build a house, forgetting that it takes some species up to 10-15 years to grow into a full tree. These are simply not factors they consider.

If we raise a generation that loves nature, there will always be room for us to factor nature into our construction industry and every other sector that impacts the natural world. One effective way to train a child to love nature is to take them to natural spaces, let them live around nature, encourage them to garden with you, and educate them about its importance. With that, gradually, they will grow to love it. Show them beautiful pictures of birds and wildlife.

More from the Magazine: Tips & Offers

There are also tips to get closer to birds. It features a list of birds being targeted (there are many, but a few listed were the Buzzard, Red Kite, Peregrine, Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Short-eared Owl). The magazine also discusses building homes for nature.

You can find discounted offers on cruises and hiking shoes – I might get a pair for my partner and me, as I used to have the exact same ones but left them in Ukraine. Something else that caught my attention in the magazine was the lodge ownership opportunities in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, and Burnham, Norfolk, with prices ranging from £165,000 to £500,000. While they look lovely in the magazine, I would definitely like to see them in person! The Aldeburgh location is situated on the Suffolk Heritage Coast, offering stunning views, while Marsh View Aldeburgh overlooks RSPB North Warren and Titchwell Marsh and is a mere 15-minute drive from the popular Burnham Market.

The magazine also showcases stunning photos of birds in truly lovely postures. And the best part for garden enthusiasts like me is the gardening tips. If you want a beautiful garden with colorful flowers, RSPB has you covered with tips and photos, even teaching you how to make a bee brick.

• Next, there's the 'pamphlet' section, which discusses saving nature while you shop. You can browse top-quality bird food, bird feeders, nest boxes, and gifts for your home and garden. It also lists compelling reasons why you should buy from RSPB, including:

  • Helping birds and wildlife
  • Designed and tested by experts
  • Promoting positive change
  • Finest quality ingredients
  • Sustainably sourced
  • Environmentally friendly You can also request a loyalty card online.

• Next is your RSPB Bird Identification Guide. This is one of my favorites! It features birds as they appear in real life with practical photos and their names, so when you spot a bird, you might just know its name! Inside, you'll find 7 top tips on how to identify birds, covering categories like garden birds, woodland and farmland birds, coastal and wetland birds, birds of prey, ducks and geese, along with next steps for further bird identification.

• You get the RSPB sticker, which I'll be putting on my partner's car before we leave for our next locations. Yes, we visit these reserves, and we truly love them!

• You also get special offers, like experiences such as the magical Northern Lights with discounts and all inclusions.

• You also receive a large map featuring "Nature Escapes" and indicating the best months to experience nature in each region or location. This means I'll be checking this map and guide, following it each month as we visit and explore. I am excited – just in case I haven't said that enough, I really am!

• Last but not least, you receive a packet of wildflowers and seed-bearing plants for bees, birds, and butterflies. It's a colorful mix of perennial and annual wildflowers combined with seed-producing plants, designed to attract and feed bees, birds, and butterflies. I can imagine how beautiful a garden would be with these seeds! Well, until then, here are the seeds included in this package:

• 15% Cornflower
• 15% Phacelia
• 10% Common Knapweed
• 7% Flax
• 7% S Poppy
• 5% Corn Marigold
• 5% Yellow Rattle
• 5% Field Scabious
• 5% Teasel
• 5% Borage
• 3% Red Clover
• 5% Wild Carrot
• 5% Birdsfoot Trefoil
• 3% Crimson Clover
• 3% Greater Knapweed
• 2% Rough Hawkbit

• And lastly, the membership card itself, which was tucked inside the magazine – it was the last item we found! I think it's all worth it.

About RSPB Membership: Types and Costs

Well, I've done a bit of digging into the RSPB membership types and their costs for you. Because let's be real, navigating all the options can sometimes feel like trying to identify a rare bird without a guide, right?

The RSPB (that's the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, remember!) has a few different membership choices, designed to fit different needs and budgets, all while helping protect our amazing wildlife. Here's the lowdown:

Your RSPB Membership Options & What They Cost

• RSPB Adult Membership:

  • Cost: Starts at just £5 per month. That's less than a fancy coffee, folks!
  • What you get: You'll receive a complimentary welcome gift and box (who doesn't love a surprise gift?!), regular access to the awesome RSPB Magazine (packed with nature news and ideas for your garden!), and free entry to all 170 UK reserves. Seriously, that free parking alone is a win! It's all about getting you out there to enjoy stunning places and stay updated on conservation efforts.

• RSPB Family Membership:

  • Cost: This one starts at £6 a month. Super affordable for a whole family adventure!
  • What you get: It covers two adults and up to five children – yes, you read that right, FIVE kids! You also get a gift and a warm welcome bundle. Families receive magazines tailored for both adults and children, filled with natural history, birding advice, and conservation news. Plus, of course, that fantastic access to 170 reserves for trekking, birding, and just soaking up nature together. It's designed to make exploring nature and protecting animals super easy for families.

• RSPB Youth Membership:

  • Cost: This is amazing for the younger generation! It's £2.34 per month for an individual youth membership. Or, if you're thinking family-style for the kids, it's £25 per year for one child, or £36 for two to five children.
  • What you get: For those under eighteen, this charitable program gives them access to all 170 national nature reserves (for free!), plus age-appropriate magazines and a Wild Welcome Pack (delivered 4-6 times a year!). The RSPB even has a "youth revolution" where young visitors (16-24) can access reserves for free as of November 6th. And for keen young wildlife enthusiasts, there's even an RSPB Youth Council they can join.

So, whether you're a solo nature lover, a family ready for outdoor adventures, or wanting to get the younger generation involved, there's an RSPB membership that fits. Knowing these details makes it so much clearer, right?