Chris Packham has spoken in support of The Wild Watch in Nidderdale AONB ahead of his visit to Harrogate.
Chris Packham stars in an ‘evening with’ event at the Royal Hall on October 19. The talk is presented by Cause UK in association with The Wild Watch.
With more than 50% of species in decline across the UK, Nidderdale AONB is currently conducting its biggest wildlife survey with the Wild Watch project, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, to inform conservation strategies.
Packham said citizen science projects like The Wild Watch were ‘increasingly important’.
He said: “We now live with the idea that nature is something else – it’s like art, it’s like music - it’s something which we can pick up if we fancy it and other than that it just carries on regardless. But we’ve forgotten that we’re implicitly entwined with it, and our health as an individual and as a species, is directly related to its health. That’s why we need to reconnect people with it, and young people in particular. I’m hoping families get involved in these citizen science projects.”
Chris Packham was recently presented with a CBE by the Prince of Wales for his services to nature conservation.
Packham said all people need to get involved and re-connected with nature.
Packham said: “It’s not just about the geeky insect counters, it’s about people who go out for a weekend and take a second look at the things that they’ve been treading over or walking past, and realise that they are intrinsically fascinating, implicitly valuable and they offer a rich sense of reward if you get down on your hands and knees and have a sniff, basically. And that affinity means that if people love it, then people like myself can call upon them to look after it.”
Chris commended the Wild Watch Youth Patron, Zach Haynes, 15, from Northallerton. Zach was a BBC Wildlife Magazine Young Blogger of the Year and recipient of the Unsprung Hero Award from BBC Springwatch.
He said: “Zach is quite an exceptional young man, he’s gifted in that regard. It’s always heartening to know that people like Zach are out there - he might replace me! We need more young people who are connecting with nature.”
‘An Evening with Chris Packham’ also includes an after-show Q&A hosted by his co-presenter on Springwatch Unsprung, Lindsey Chapman, followed by a book signing.
Yorkshire-born Lindsey is a Patron of The Wild Watch in Nidderdale AONB.
Lindsey said: “This promises to be a very special evening. I hope this talk inspires audiences in this Year of Green Action. It’s important to create connections between people and the natural world, the more people understand about it, the more they create memories and connections, the more they’ll want to protect it. That’s key.”
Chris Packham, The Royal Hall, Harrogate - 19th October 2019, 7pm.
To book: https://www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/An-Evening-with-Chris-Packham Box Office: 01423 502116