Chris Packham

[Maydup]

We went to see Chris Packham last night; he gave a public lecture at the local uni which was brilliant. As always, he was as entertaining as he was knowledgeable which made for a perfect evening out.

Still just a little bit awestruck :-)

[factor-fiction]

(Just off to Google "Chris Packham" )

[factor-fiction]

Ah, Autumnwatch/Springwatch etc- I knew the face/voice , not the name

[Maydup]

Here's the list of dates if anyone else is interested in catching him locally

http://www.chrispackh...ris_Packham_Talks.htm

[yogi-bear]

I've heard of him, Maidup ..........bet he gives a good lecture too.

[woofgang]

he's been a bit snot faced about people using the New Forest....not misquoted, I saw the whole bit on TV.

[woofgang]

http://www.telegraph....st-could-be-lost.html

[Maydup]

He's bound to be, he's a conservationist who lives on the edge of it.

[ladybirder]

If Chris Packham is giving warnings about the New Forest the powers that be should listen to him. He knows what he's talking about. Brilliant bloke.

[carrust]

He also says that all cats should be exterminated!

[Robinia]

...And he says giant pandas should be allowed to die out...

...but he's still very fanciable, lucky you Maidup.

[Maydup]

LOL, he talked about cats last night but didn't suggest they should be exterminated!

He did however say it wasn't worth saving the Scottish Wild Cat now as it's interbred with domestic cats beyond the point of useful conservation.

[rowanwitch]

might catch him at Redditch... perhaps I can ask him for Martin's phone number

[LoftyLottie]

I've gone off him somewhat, I find him a bit opinionated. He comes down and lectures here quite regularly. I live a couple of miles from Pensthorpe (Spring watch 2009/2010). He also has a lot to do with the Hawk and Owl trust Reserve which is only a mile from me and also features on Spring Watch.

[notasyoungasiwas]

Can't stomach him since he said elephants should be culled, as if they don't suffer enough what with poachers and being stolen from the wild as babies to perfome in vile circuses, AND giant pandas allowed to die out - some conservationist!!

[China Doll]

I remember him saying that about pandas before and giving his reasons and actually ending up agreeing with him.

I mainly remember him from The Really Wild Show when I was a kid :c)

[ladybirder]

He will have sound reasons for the things he says and when you've heard them you may well change your mind.

[woofgang]

Ladybirder I have. I didn't. The reason that the New Forest has survived to modern times (and other similar places) is that they have changed with the times and ordinary people can use and enjoy them. To ban the public from all the areas that could be used by ground nesting birds would close the vast majority of the Forest for about a third of the year. And who would exclude the cattle, deer and ponies, also the foxes and badgers who eat the eggs and chicks of ground nesting birds as do owls and hawks?
Areas of the Forest are protected by being closed during the nesting season, just not the whole forest. People like myself who go to the forest every day rain or shine yes to exercise our dogs are unpaid carers. We report dumped and burning cars and injured animals, pick up litter and generally keep an eye on "our areas"
Its a balance. Less birds in the wild; more birds in gardens. Less areas given over to wildlife; more people caring for those areas.
(Picks up soapbox and shuffles off)

[ladybirder]

Thanks for your reply woofgang, how lucky are you living near and using the NF every day. I'm so envious. Not of the burnt out cars - obviously. Fancy people doing that in such a beautiful spot. Do you know what CP's views are and his reasons for them?

[Maydup]

He didn't suggest banning the public, he suggested managing the New Forest to allow it to recover. Its all in your own link woofgang and I can't see how this can be so misinterpreted.

http://www.telegraph....st-could-be-lost.html

I also read his comments about the panda. He did admit to being a bit flippant, but did say that we can no longer afford the campaign to save the panda. The amount of money spent already and the amount of money we are likely to spend on this unsuccessful mission could be used to much better effect elsewhere now. Again, I don't see why he can't say that without being attacked from all fronts! He's not about supporting things just because they're cute or popular, he's a realist that's all.

[woofgang]

Quoted from the article
"He has come up with a number of solutions to preserve the beauty of the New Forest.
He has suggested restricting access to certain sensitive areas of the woodland and preventing dogs from entering places inhabited by ground-nesting birds."

What isn't mentioned is that this would be most of the forest from the beginning of march to the end of July. This would be if he only meant the nesting season, if he meant exclusion all year round it would be even more drastic.