Pensthorpe Natural Park has added one of Britain’s best-known birders, Bill Oddie OBE, to its programme of guest speakers at the Pensthorpe Bird and Wildlife Fair on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 May 2019 and announced an exciting programme of talks at the two-day event.
Wildlife presenter and conservationist Bill Oddie OBE, who has presented popular TV programmes including Springwatch and Autumnwatch, will join well-known TV naturalists Simon King OBE and Mike Dilger, along with Norfolk Wildlife Trust's Wildlife Evangelist, Nick Acheson and Head of People and Wildlife, David North at the event, which aims to highlight the county’s credentials as a birding and wildlife hotspot.
Sunday afternoon in the lecture theatre sees a run of Mike, Nick, Simon and Bill in what promises to be an informative and entertaining exploration of the natural world.
Norfolk Wildlife Trust has been
named as the charity beneficiary of the Pensthorpe Bird and Wildlife Fair. The event organisers pledged to donate a percentage of the proceeds to enhancing and protecting NWT wetland areas.
Here is the full speaker programme:
Saturday 18 May
- 10.30am - Craig Jones ‘Norfolk Rhapsody’ (Garden Room)
- 11am – Chrissie Kelley ‘Corncrakes in the Wensum Valley’ (Lecture Marquee)
- 11.15am - Rick & Elis Simpson ‘Waders in the Wash’ (Garden Room)
- 12pm – Simon King OBE ‘An Audience with Simon King in association with Zeiss’ (Lecture Marquee)
- 12pm - Hannah Ward ‘Project Godwit’ (Garden Room)
- 12.45pm - David North, Norfolk Wildlife Trust ‘Nature Matters: From Global to the Local’ (Garden Room)
- 1pm – Bill Oddie ‘Look back at the highs and lows of birdwatching life’ (Lecture Marquee)
- 1.30pm - Joe Harkness ‘Bird Therapy- Exploring therapeutic benefits of birdwatching for mental health and wellbeing’ (Garden Room)
- 2pm - Nick Acheson, Norfolk Wildlife Trust ‘Conservation in Norfolk: bringing back the wild to our lives’ (Lecture Marquee)
- 2.15pm - Jack Perks ‘Beneath the Waterline’ (Garden Room)
- 3pm – Mike Dilger, in association with Swarovski ‘The trials and tribulations of a wildlife presenter’ (Lecture Marquee)
- 3pm - Justin Carr ‘Swarovski Optic Techniques for Successful Digiscoping’ (Garden Room)
- 3.45pm - Damon Bridge ‘The power of the crane- a force for wetland conservation’ (Garden Room)
- 4pm - Lizzie Bruce ‘The future of RSPB Titchwell’ (Lecture Marquee)
Sunday 19 May
- 10.30am - Damon Bridge ‘The power of the crane- a force for wetland conservation’ (Garden Room)
- 11am - Lizzie Bruce ‘The future of RSPB Titchwell’ (Lecture Marquee)
- 11.15am - Craig Jones ‘Norfolk Rhapsody’ (Garden Room)
- 12pm - Mike Dilger, in association with Swarovski ‘The trials and tribulations of a wildlife presenter’ (Lecture Marquee)
- 12pm – Samantha Lee ‘Turtle Doves’ (Garden Room)
- 12.45pm - Lucy McRobert ‘365 Days Wild: how to enjoy nature every day of the year’ (Garden Room)
- 1pm - Nick Acheson, Norfolk Wildlife Trust ‘Conservation in Norfolk: bringing back the wild to our lives’ (Lecture Marquee)
- 1.30pm - Justin Carr ‘Swarovski Optic Techniques for Successful Digiscoping’ (Garden Room)
- 2pm - Simon King OBE ‘An Audience with Simon King in association with Zeiss’ (Lecture Marquee)
- 2.15pm - Joe Harkness ‘Bird Therapy- Exploring therapeutic benefits of birdwatching for mental health and wellbeing’ (Garden Room)
- 3pm - Bill Oddie ‘Look back at the highs and lows of birdwatching life’ (Lecture Marquee)
- 3pm - Steve Cale ‘Secret Lives- A glimpse into the world of nightjars’ (Garden Room)
- 4pm - Chrissie Kelley ‘Corncrakes in the Wensum Valley’ (Lecture Marquee)
Pensthorpe Natural Park will announce its programme of guided walks shortly.
The event will be hosted by Pensthorpe Conservation Trust and will bring together experts in the fields of optic equipment, wildlife-inspired arts and crafts, books and nature holidays. Tickets cost £8 per person. Under 3s and Pensthorpe Annual Members are free. Parking is free. Dogs, except guide dogs, are not allowed in the main reserve.
For more information about the Pensthorpe Bird and Wildlife Fair, the speakers and their talks, or to book tickets visit
pensthorpe.com/birdfair or call 01328 851465.