Hello All!

BP Badger · #1 (**permalink**) 13-05-2010, 03:54 PM

Recommended here by another new member (The_Doctor). Like all of you here, I'm a great animal nut, and at 16 have been inspired throughout my childhood by all the greats, in particular David Attenborough and Chris Packham. As I hail from Hampshire, I don't live that far from the latter so have met him a couple of times! My field of interest in fauna is broad, and I am looking to be a zookeeper as I find the range of biodiversity absolutely fascinating, so along with caring for it within Britian I'd love to go and help out with the conservation of so-many fast declining species oversees. I've even had experience of wildlife presenting on TV, as when I was 12 I was the 'animal expert' on a CBBC show called 'Level Up'! But in the distant future, I'd love to manage a conservation centre for British Wildlife, which is where my interest from that comes in.

The 'BP' in my name stands for Beggarspath (Wood), my local woodland which has fueled my love for wildlife since I could walk. At time of writing it's full of some of the best bluebells I've seen anywhere, and not being a public woodland makes it a great place to see animals like roe deer, buzzards and a huge variety of woodland birds without disturbance: The downside being that is used as a pheasant shooting wood, and much of the wildlife is often persecuted by gamekeepers. Some of my magical wildlife encounters there include the fox family that I used to watch reguarly as they played around their earth last Spring, and coming face to face with a tawny owl in broad daylight a few years ago. At the moment I've found what is almost certainly an active badger sett based on the signs and two hazelnuts found in the exact same spot that bear the typical smooth indentation a dormouse makes, and we are currently compiling evidence of these to send off to the wildlife trusts (which like us, I'm sure most of you are members of) to make further assesments into the woodland's ecological value. Though it is a SINC, the fields and hedgerows around it, which are of outstanding agricultral value, are threatened by development from the Prince's Trust.
Beyond Beggarspath, I have experienced some great wildlife experiences in Britain: Seeing Minke Whales, Basking Sharks, Sea Eagles and Otters on Mull, watching Pine Martens and Badgers emerge in front of a hide near Aviemore, standing less than two feet from a water vole (and having it swim under our feet!) on Brownsea Island... these are just a few of the most memorable. But the best thing is I've got so much more to discover ahead of me!
I am also a regular visitor to the New Forest Wildlife Park, a small wildlife centre that concentrates on British Wildlife (along with a few past-natives), which also rescues many injured animals, most of these orphaned otter cubs. I know the staff and animals there well, and hope to get a summer job there having sent in details.

Aside from wildlife, other great interests include Doctor Who, Zoos, Biking, Writing and travelling and getting out there in general! I'll try and pop in here occasionally, but it looks to be a great site.

shenk1 · #2 (**permalink**) 13-05-2010, 06:27 PM

Welcome to WAB.

Sounds like you've a keen interest and knowledge already so I'll be looking forward to you and the doctor teaching the rest of us a thing or two

The_Doctor · #3 (**permalink**) 13-05-2010, 08:14 PM

Welcome dude, didn't realise it was you at first!!!

Recommended this site to you cause I knew you had exact same love for British Wildlife as me!!! And it's only fair since you got me connected to zoochat!

Newbies unite!!!

Deer Stalker · #4 (**permalink**) 13-05-2010, 08:18 PM

Hi BP Badger,

Went to the New Forest Wildlife Park yesterday. Great to see Wolves back there now & the new Butterfly house.

Kayleigh · #5 (**permalink**) 13-05-2010, 09:21 PM

Hi and welcome..

BP Badger · #6 (**permalink**) 13-05-2010, 09:25 PM

Thanks for all the welcomes so far.

Good to hear you enjoyed it Deer Stalker!

Hope the wolves are well settled now, I've seen them twice, slightly apprehensive on both visits due to their recent arrival. My avatar is the best shot I got of one on my second visit.

Deer Stalker · #7 (**permalink**) 13-05-2010, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BP Badger

Thanks for all the welcomes so far.

Good to hear you enjoyed it Deer Stalker!

Hope the wolves are well settled now, I've seen them twice, slightly apprehensive on both visits due to their recent arrival. My avatar is the best shot I got of one on my second visit.

And a good shot it is too.