Who inspired your interest in wildlife?

[ChasCreek]

It's possibly not a 'who' but rather a 'what' for me.... Books.

I had two encyclopedias of world animals as a child and I would spend hours looking at the illustrations - especially at the Lemurs I seem to remember!

Again on the books front; 'Tarka the Otter' by Henry Williamson and 'My family and other animals' by Gerald Durrell sparked an interest in all things wildlife and outdoors.

Of course wildlife goes with the great outdoors and the 'Famous Five' (Enid Blyton) always had such great adventures in the outdoors that I spent just about all of my time out in the fresh air.

Finally I can't miss out the wonderful Johnny Morris and 'Animal Magic' and of course 'Tales from the riverbank'.

[glsammy]

My interest started not that long ago. I'd just bought a Canon compact camera with a decent 10X lens, and decided to go to Attenborough Nature Reserve. I've lived near to the place all my life but I'm ashamed to say I'd never been before. I started taking shots of birds, and just about anything that moves. I then discovered this place WAB and that was it, I was hooked! My knowledge before WAB was basic to put it mildly.
I cannot now imagine life without exploring wild places and trying to see what before I was blind to. I've a lot to thank WAB for.

[clicka15]

Originally Posted by glsammy

and decided to go to Attenborough Nature Reserve.

Hi glsammy,

So it was a different kind of Attenborough - not David - that got you into nature?!

Steve.

[RobSutton]

Never worked out what got me started perhaps it was just being called Robin and my mum pointing one out in the garden?

Some lovely stories in here, amazing how people from such different backgrounds can be linked by common interests. One thing I do think is sad is that kids no longer get the chance to do "Nature Walks" at primary school, we had a nature table as well for all those things I picked up messing around in the woods.

[excoriate]

David Attenborough helped.

But being surrounded by fields, streams, ponds and a woodland (which had colonised a coal slag heap!) inspired me more than any person.

[hedgehog whisperer]

My Mum and Dad, their house backs onto a protected wildlife site (protected because it has Adders there) I bet not everyone had them sunbathing on the back lawn. (I have a huge phobia of snakes) so it was not always the best place to live.

My parent would take in any injured animals, and feed anything that came into the garden. Hedgehogs especially; I learnt about the birds and the bee because of a couple of very loud Hedgehogs one night.

My mother is no longer with us, but the children of “her” Robin still visits my Dad like generations before them. Dad is still into wildlife, this year he has been feeding a Fox that visits him, she was a skinny vixen who was still suckering young and not getting enough food by hunting for herself, so he helped her out a bit. Having wildlife around and interacting with it seems natural.

My husband would like to add that he thinks that Bill Oddie is my inspiration as I buy tons of his mealworm crumble to feed my hoggies. He thinks I have put Bill Oddies’ kids through private school with the amount of food I have brought with his face on. LOL ... Joking aside, I do like a bit of Spring / Autumn watch.

[2dogs2000]

Like ChasCreek I was also inspired by books.

As a child I always had my nose in a book and it was always about animals. My mum even took me to get my hearing checked as I was so absorbed in my book that I didn't hear what was going on around me (my hearing was fine).
I also got into trouble with my english teacher as she wanted me to read a variety of books and I would always choose animal books. She was absolutely thrilled when I chose the biography of Mahatma Ghandi. As soon as I had finished it I was back to my favourites.

No-one else in my family is that interested but now my 7 year old nephew is showing great interest and we have started going on bug hunts. He was not impressed (scared I think)when we caught a scorpion fly (male) in his bug box and couldn't wait to let it go.
It is lovely to have someone to share the interest with and that is why I love this site.

[therealbobbo]

When I was 6,we moved from a house in town,to a house,on a new estate,just carved out of the Aldershot military training area.It wasn't long,before,with the help of others,that I found out that the common,was a great polace to play,especially when it was out of bounds,when the red flags were flying!
Aws I got older,I started to notice things,suddenly,there were squirrels,Rabbits,Adders,Grass Snakes,Slow Worms and lizards.Then,I started noticing birds,and one day,instead of calling them birds,I could call most of those I regularly saw by their proper names.as a teenager,I started fishing,so went to ponds,canals and riverbanks.Saw more diferent thing,like on my first night fishing trip,I woke,to see half a loaf being dragged from my bag,by a rat!
I was hooked,and most of my working life,has been outdoors,now,I work as a gardener,in town gardens,country gardenws,and in between gardens,so I get a chance,to see most things.
I never heard 1 cuckoo,this year,though,how bad things are getting.I remember,that in primary school,I used to stop listening to the teacher,and listen to the cockoos,bobbo

[gez]

just myself.
non of my family. or my own family now or even friends are at all interested in wildlife at all. i have to watch all the programmes on my own, go out with my camera on my own. & if i come in all excited as ive seen something or taken a good pic.
its like OK. lol.
but hey thats the way i like it now. poss because ive no choice. gez

[FlyAgaric]

It was mother nature herself that got me interested. No one I have ever known really cared much about wildlife. I used to walk with my dog deep into the countryside, and just feel in love with its beauty and tranquillity. I just felt so at home there, and felt as though I was a part of nature, just as the bees and Rabbits were. If I am down or depressed, I always go for a stomp into nature, and always come back refreshed and happy.

[PMG]

Originally Posted by 2dogs2000

Like ChasCreek I was also inspired by books.

As a child I always had my nose in a book and it was always about animals. My mum even took me to get my hearing checked as I was so absorbed in my book that I didn't hear what was going on around me (my hearing was fine).
I also got into trouble with my english teacher as she wanted me to read a variety of books and I would always choose animal books. She was absolutely thrilled when I chose the biography of Mahatma Ghandi. As soon as I had finished it I was back to my favourites.

No-one else in my family is that interested but now my 7 year old nephew is showing great interest and we have started going on bug hunts. He was not impressed (scared I think)when we caught a scorpion fly (male) in his bug box and couldn't wait to let it go.
It is lovely to have someone to share the interest with and that is why I love this site.

Books for me too in a round-about way. Through illness/weakness as a child I was home-schooled by my mum via the Charlotte Mason College between the ages of 6 to 10 so as well as being taught I did a lot of reading by myself. Mam took lessons every morning - the usual three R's! But every afternoon if the weather was anything like we had a nature walk . . . Added to that the radio (actually they were called a wireless when I was little!) and two things stick in my mind oeoeoeoe Barton Special Agent (that intro music I 'hear' it still 50 years later!) and the real spark - Walks With Romany and I can still 'hear' his voice too - and if memory serves it was similar to Jack Hargreaves - maybe it even was Jack Hargreaves pretending to be a romany?? Anyway there was this chap going out and about in the countryside aware and full of knowledge and wandering at will and it set fire to me - I wanted to do that and I guess I have. In my teens at the big school I was nurtured and taken under the wing of my biology teacher Mr Titterington - he used to take school trips and gave up his own time to pass on knowledge - particularly botany - to myself and one other girl - just two of us out of the whole school who had an over-riding interest in wildlife. . .

Myself and my husband own an old VW campervan (bought by my dad as a wedding present 10 years ago) and any excuse to go out and about will find me diving for the front door! I'd like to think I will get another 50 years to indulge myself with wildlife and the countryside - you never know - I might . . .

Pauline

[Cazzie]

Originally Posted by gez

just myself.
non of my family. or my own family now or even friends are at all interested in wildlife at all. i have to watch all the programmes on my own, go out with my camera on my own. & if i come in all excited as ive seen something or taken a good pic.
its like OK. lol.
but hey thats the way i like it now. poss because ive no choice. gez

Aww that's a shame gez, but remember we're all here for you and will delight in sharing your experiences and photos

[PMG]

Originally Posted by Cazzie

Aww that's a shame gez, but remember we're all here for you and will delight in sharing your experiences and photos

You keep going your own way gez - I always did (and despite the opinions of some its done me no harm!) You will meet someone eventually who will share your interests and you might want to have a family of your own and enthuse your kids. Kids never happened for me but I'm not downcast about it - I have a gorgeous husband - who's interest in wildlife has blossomed since he's been with me - and as for photography - its taken me 30+ years to hone my capabilities with a camera - and his nibs has learned from me and surpassed me in some ways in just half that time! When I met him he told me he didn't 'do' photpgraphy - I said that's ok so long as you don't mind me 'doing' it! After a while he got to thinking 'I can do that' and by the heck he can!!

Pauline

[John D]

No one really. Having been brought up in the country and lived mainly in wide open spaces ever since, 'wildlife and nature' has always been there.
If I have a favourite it must be birds. I have been a RSPB member for many years, in turn so have my children and now grandchildren.
Even when we go to Dubai every year to visit our son and family I head for the nature reserves and wildlife parks ASAP.
What better way to spend time, than in the countryside surrounded by 'all creatures large and small'???
John D

[Fungalpunk]

Saw this thread and thought I would add a little bit.

My wildlife interest started when I was a nipper with my dad breeding budgies and my unemployed uncle coming round and taking me and my brother 'nesting' instead of going to school (tut, tut). Yes I was one of 'those'. Anyway this carried on for a few years and like any growing lad I became interested in other things (punk rock in my case). However what these 'egg-robbing' excursions did teach me albeit in a deviant way was to be aware of the creatures out there. 20 years later I met my good lady wife and in the early days of our courting we used to go for strolls were I would tell her tales of my youth. Naturally my days of pilfering from birds nests came about and I tried to show her some of the local species I had learnt. This led to buying a bird book and then a pair of binoculars. We started listing species and then going further afield enjoying these feathered wonders.

Next came flowers, then insects, then trees and eventually everything from mushrooms to snails. One of my ambitions was to be more familiar with the world around me and appreciate what Mother Nature creates for our pleasure.

We now have a veritable library of wildlife books, an abundance of equipmment and have just set up a fungi group for Cheshire and Flintshire. My young daughter is also a wildlife seeker and knows quite a bit for a 10 year old.

The places we have been and the things we have seen are irreplaceable and a total and utter joy.

The bird nesting beginning may be frowned upon and so it should be but it did get the ball rolling.

Children need to be encouraged so as to look after this negelcted world and instead of collecting eggs I believe in encouraging them to collect knowledge and if a list helps this then so be it.

I am now an avid lister has it helps give one a sense of achievement and keeps things in order and rekindles tho old memory. Also it highlights the species one has overlooked and therefore encourages trips to more obscure places.

There, look now you have me going on a bit - so sorry.

The main message from this is to take pride in yourself for appreciating things that are real and encourage others to do the same.

Cheers

Fungalpunk

[Maccattack]

My Dad ,although he never went out looking as far as I can remember. It was his stories about Madagascar where he was born that intrigued me , he had a pet chamaeleon had pictures of giant crocs and of course lemurs . We had one book called (probably) nature book for boys , with pictures of snakes .Later I was interested mainly because he would say how dangerous it was to go walking in the mountains (the mist could come down) and he never did go for long walks , naturally I tried to go to the hills as much as possible.
Not sure this is of interest to anyone , but quite enjoyable to think about.
Malcolm Mac

[gez]

thanks cassie & pauline
pauline i've four kids myself. lol. & i must say that out of everyone my youngest Eva shows the most interest shes just turned two & can already tell me most animals. Though the birds are just birds lol. so looks like i have someone afterall
So i just need to turn wonder pets off first then carry Eva to the pc bingo.
gez

[DebsyD]

Born and grew up in Zimbabwe with a largely different range of wildlife, we spent hours outside, hardly ever inside, often barefoot in the garden(still trying to kick the habit!). Came across all sorts in ours and both grannies' gardens as well as in 'the bush' (not a plant but an vast expanse of tall grass and droughted shrubs and trees). I remember being fascinated by large black segmented hard shelled centipedes (Chongolawlaws we called them, spelt?), locusts and grass hoppers, chamaeleons and spiders, "Go away" (Lowrie?) birds, the various snakes our German Shepherd had a habit of bringing in etc... My mum always loved her gardening and my dad his photography and they had a good awareness and appreciation of nature and encouraged us to learn about and be fascinated by it. I remember raising numerous batches of silkworms, feeding them mulberry leaves and spinning the silk. We also used to try to catch bugs that made circles burrowing in the sand. Our favourite occassional weeknd past time though was driving through the bush/game parks patiently watching and waiting by waterholes and learning to spot well camouflaged animals through the bush then taking photos. In the late 70s we moved to Bahrain in the middle east for 6yrs which was very different - desert iguanas, sea snakes (I collected many spent skins) etc and then as we moved to England where the wildlife is fabulous but I was in my teens so became interested mostly in other things, I can even remember being made to go on a day trip to Slimbridge Wildfowl Park when I'd rather have gone to the cinema with my boyfriend! I still took photos of nature and wildlife but kind of forgot about it - Uni, work and life took over.

Rediscovering wildlife (and gardening) came with having my own kids and taking them in the garden and out for walks and teaching them, every chance I got. We kept all manner of creature in a plastic vivarium temporarily before returning it exactly where we found it. Got involved in school Nature Club etc etc... and we look for, find and enjoy wildlife wherever we go on holiday. My son's now 14 and has a keen interest in birds (the feathered as well as the human kind) and my daughter's 11 and just creature/nature mad (no fad - always has been, always will be) and doesn't have to be asked to do her Biology homework, almost can't get home quick enough!

More recent inspiration has come from taking the kids on Wildlife Trust walks, bat & deer evenings, early morning dawn chorus walks (at Alice Holt), a wildlife talk & walk at RHS Wisley (Andrew Halstead really knows his bugs!) and to things held by people such as Chris Packham. My son watches and looks up to Bill Oddie.

Enough from me... back to the work I should be doing

Deb

[Nick T]

Streuth, I have absolutley no Idea!

I lived on the edge of town when I was younger and was always out in the countryside. Micheala Stracken probably helped although I think this was a different beast she roused

WHen I was still at school ( a long time ago now) I helped out a guy who used to breed gundogs and he was really into nature and conservation ( despite going shooting which some folks don't get). Now I still live close to the country side but have the dog with me rather than the Kids or my wife although my daughter is sort of interested.

[Mikeakabigman]

My interest seems to have always been there, my earliest recollection is at about the age of 3/4 of picking up sparrow eggshell fragments from the front path leading to our house, where they had been dropped after the chicks had hatched in nests built in the thick ivy that covered the front of the house.
From then on my interest grew steadily along with a cousin, we spent many hours rambling around the countryside as teenagers, he went on to be a bird illustrator (Terence Lambert) whilst I choose another career and developed(no pun intended ) an interest in photography.

[pressld2]

Originally Posted by Mikeakabigman

he went on to be a bird illustrator (Terence Lambert)

Wow! I'm impressed. I still have my 1976 edition of "Lambert's Birds of Garden and Woodland". It's always been one of my favourite bird books - the paintings are absolutely beautiful. On the back of the dust jacket he's described as a "young bird painter of distinction" by no less a person than Peter Scott.

Dave P.

[Mikeakabigman]

Yep, needless to say I have the book as well
I must confess to feeling quite proud of him, we spent so many hours together as youngsters, many of them drawing our finds and memories from a day out
Sadly we dont meet very often these days