Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin will kick off Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s New Year programme of wildlife discussions, which will be available to watch online for free.
Presented by NWT’s Wildlife Ambassador, Nick Acheson, Cley Calling Remotely will also feature writer, Melissa Harrison and conservationist, Roy Dennis.
Cley Calling is Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s festival of celebrating our connection to the natural world, through art, writing, music and performance. It has run for several years with NWT’s flagship nature reserve, Cley and Salthouse Marshes and its visitor centre at the heart. Over the autumn Nick spoke with Tim Dee, Roy Dennis, Erica McAlister, Lev Parikian, with an average of around 100 attendees each time.
Chief Executive of Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Pamela Abbott said: "We are delighted to welcome Chris Packham back to Norfolk Wildlife Trust following his bioblitz at Weeting Heath a few years ago. It has been wonderful how Chris and Megan connected with so many people during their self-isolating bird club, virtually meeting with local people enjoying nature. The work they have done to engage people with their local nature complements the work we have done this year at Norfolk Wildlife Trust to utilise digital means to engage people. We hope many people join these online events and we are very grateful for support from North Norfolk District Council in making them possible."
The events are supported by North Norfolk District Council, as part of the Chairman’s charity of the year. Cllr Dr Clive Stockton, Chairman of North Norfolk District Council, said: “When choosing my charity of the year, I was keen to support two key NWT projects, Children and Nature, and Heritage Grazing. Sadly, due to the current COVID situation, much of the work scheduled for Children in Nature was unable to be completed, however, I feel that getting people involved and developing a lifelong appreciation for nature is now more important than ever. I therefore take great pleasure in extending my sponsorship of Norfolk Wildlife Trust to encompass the “Cley Calling” events in January, February March 2021. I am enthused by the high calibre of speakers discussing a range of engaging topics.”
The New Year programme of talks, which each start at 7pm, includes:
Thursday 14 January: Megan McCubbin and Chris Packham. In the wake of the Self-Isolating Bird Club, they have written a book detailing how we can go about putting nature back together again. With new science and conservation strategies, they hope to empower and excite the audience about the natural world.
Thursday 18 February: Melissa Harrison. Moving from London’s parks and verges to Suffolk’s woods and arable fields, this diary – compiled from nature writer and novelist Melissa Harrison’s monthly columns in The Times – demonstrates how we must first learn to see, then act to preserve, the beauty on our doorsteps – no matter where we live.
Thursday 25 March Roy Dennis. We are delighted to welcome back Roy Dennis, who will share more stories from the front lines of conservation, offering eye-opening insights into the complexities of reintroducing extinct animals to Britain.
All events are free to join with a suggested donation of £5 –
registration via the NWT website is required ahead of time.