Our History
Birds & The Belles is an all-female birding group that was founded by Shell Clarke; a disabled birdwatcher who relocated to Yorkshire and was looking for friends, shared knowledge, and a safe environment for birdwatching.
Feeling vulnerable in her new surroundings, Shell reached out on Facebook to see if there was any other women that fancied meeting up. And there was!
While women make up approximately 50% of birdwatchers and the number of young female birdwatchers is on the rise, it often doesn’t feel that way.
Birds & The Belles is an all-female birding group that aims to enhance the experience, representation and safety of women in the birdwatching community.
Whether you’re an experienced birdwatcher or just starting your journey, we welcome you to join! We aim to build friendships, share knowledge, and inspire each other along the way.
Join us in making the world of birdwatching more accessible and enjoyable for all women! Together, we can make a difference and inspire future generations of female birders.
Our Values
Learn: We empower women to advocate for nature, mentor and educate others, and lead birdwatching and nature events.
Connect: We nurture an inclusive and positive community of women with the shared interest of nature and birdwatching.
Explore: We ensure that every woman feels safe, empowered and supported to explore nature to it’s fullest.
Support: We support nature and birdwatching companies, non-profits and charities.
Inspire: We inspire women and the next generation to take advantage of the therapeutic benefits of nature and become better stewards of the natural world.
Our Supporters
