Founded by Tim Appleton MBE and Penny Robinson, the event has raised millions of pounds for bird conservation projects worldwide. Thanks to their passion and the support of an incredible team of volunteers, Global Birdfair has become one of the UK’s premier wildlife events.
Each year, Global Birdfair supports a flagship international conservation project, with proceeds from ticket sales helping to protect threatened bird species and their habitats.
This year’s theme, “Preventing Island Extinctions,” focuses on the remarkable island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe in the Gulf of Guinea. Although smaller than Greater London, it is recognised as Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO and is home to an extraordinary number of endemic species found nowhere else on Earth, many of which are now facing an uncertain future.
The flagship species for Birdfair 2026 is the Critically Endangered Dwarf Ibis, with an estimated global population of fewer than 2,000 individuals. Alongside the Dwarf Ibis, several other endemic bird species are under increasing pressure from habitat loss, unsustainable hunting, invasive mammals and forest degradation.
Ticket sales from this year’s Birdfair will support BirdLife International in developing practical conservation measures to protect at least three Critically Endangered endemic bird species. The project will also invest in training local conservationists, working alongside communities, students and national park authorities to build long-term conservation capacity and raise awareness across São Tomé and Príncipe.
The initiative also recognises the wider benefits of conservation, helping to safeguard the island’s unique biodiversity while supporting sustainable ecotourism and creating lasting opportunities for local people.
Our Invertebrate Ecologist and keen birdwatcher, Dave Goddard, will once again be spending all three days at the event on the British Dragonfly Society (BDS) stand.
The stand offers plenty to discover for visitors of all ages, including displays explaining the fascinating lifecycle of dragonflies and damselflies, complete with tanks containing live larvae, including damselfly larvae and both major types of dragonfly larvae.
Visitors can also:
We’re also proud to share that Baker Consultants is sponsoring the British Dragonfly Society this year, supporting the charity’s presence at the event and its ongoing work promoting the conservation of dragonflies and damselflies.
Beyond the conservation organisations, Global Birdfair offers something for everyone with hundreds of exhibitors showcasing binoculars, telescopes, cameras, books, artwork, clothing, wildlife holidays and much more.
Across the three days, visitors can also enjoy an extensive programme of talks and presentations from well-known wildlife experts and personalities, including Robert E. Fuller and Nick Baker, making it an unmissable event for anyone with a passion for nature.
If you’re planning to visit Global Birdfair this year, be sure to stop by the British Dragonfly Society stand to say hello to Dave, discover the remarkable world of dragonflies and damselflies, and find out more about the vital work being carried out to protect wildlife both here in the UK and around the world.
The Baker Consultants team is highly experienced and we are passionate about what we do. If you need advice related to ecology, surveys or conservation, then please get in touch with us via our contact form on the website, or you can call us on +44 (0)1629 593958 or email us on info@bakerconsultants.co.uk.