[smartie]

I, too, agree with Doug. But I wonder if we are the best people to answer the question of why society in general is becoming more interested. We're all interested in wildlife already, or we wouldn't be here. I can see that there is more of a general interest in the environment these days, and that the BBC in particular is trying to get people off their couches and into the outdoors. I guess we all hope the interest in the environment is leading people to do more than just watch the programmes, and that the nature programmes are getting them out of doors with their own binoculars. But I can't help being reminded of how many people avidly watch TV cookery programmes without ever cooking any fresh food themselves...