Springwatch star Chris Packham to visit Fairburn Ings

MISSION: Springwatch host Chris Packham is coming to Fairburn Ings as part of a nature audit.

The Springwatch host and a team of wildlife experts will be at the Newton Lane reserve on Thursday, July 19 as part of the first independent nature audit of its kind in the UK.

His goal is to investigate the extent to which the nation’s wildlife species are under threat. He also wants to meet the local projects working on the conservation of wildlife habitats and to raise £5,000 for the visited projects. Fairburn Ings will be one of the beneficiaries of the fundraising.

Mr Packham said: “I need to see it for myself. I need to meet the people with their fingers on the pulse of our wildlife the length and breadth of the UK, those unsung heroes, the great British naturalists who know their stuff and are making a difference.

“I need to get a complete first-hand experience of the natural health of the UK. I’m excited and terrified at the same time. I love learning and seeing new places and species but I fear that I will also bear witness to a landscape in huge trouble. I want to spread an awareness of the successes and failures and to raise some money to help combat the latter. And to encourage people, particularly young people to come out and see the beauty for themselves - to touch it, smell it, feel it. If just one youngster learns to love life then it will all be worthwhile.

This is not a ‘last chance see’ this is a big chance to make a difference before it’s too late.’

The ‘UK Bioblitz’ tour begins in the Scottish Highlands this Saturday. Mr Packham will spend a fast paced ten days travelling with his team across Northern Ireland, Wales and parts of England.

Fairburn Ings is one of 50 sites Chris will be visiting. People are invited to come along and join in. It is a great opportunity for children and young people to get involved and engaged with the natural world, to inspire them to conserve and protect it as they grow up.

The UK Bioblitz team includes hundreds of experts, species specialists, young conservationists and film makers all working together to highlight the state of our wildlife and the need for urgent centralised action to ensure we have wildlife everywhere. See www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/chris-packham-bioblitz for more.