TV presenter and naturalist Chris Packham is coming to Cae Lynden Nature Reserve Ystradgynlais, on Saturday, July 21 as part of the first independent wildlife audit of its kind in the UK. The goal of his Bioblitz tour is to investigate the extent to which the nation’s wildlife species are under threat and to meet and raise money for the local projects working on the conservation of wildlife habitats.
Chris will be starting in the Scottish Highlands on July 14 and will spend a fast paced ten days travelling with his team across Northern Ireland, Wales and parts of England. Cae Lynden Nature Reserve are proud to be one of 50 sites Chris will be visiting and we are inviting members of the public to come along and join in providing 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.
Brecknock Wildlife Trust Wild Communities Project will be one of the beneficiaries of the fundraising and you can support them by donating here: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/chris-packham-bioblitz
Chris 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 team includes 100’s 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. Nature reserves are not enough.
For more information about the Brecknock Wildlife Trust Wild Communities Project visit https://www.welshwildlife.org/nature-reserves/brecknock/ for more information.
Visit www.chrispackham.co.uk to learn more about Chris Packham and to follow the Bioblitz tour. You can also follow Chris on Facebook and Twitter.