My earliest nature memory is of my mother trying to capture a lizard to show me. I was five.. and she caught it by its tail.. which was left wriggling in her hand while the rest of the poor creature ran for cover.
Next would be finding stiklebacks in a stream.. taking them home and being sent back out to put them back where I found them
jaki
PS In later life I discovered that my mother is afraid of all sorts of beasties.. including spiders and lizards but she never ever let on while we were children. For that Mum, I am eternaly grateful.