An autumn programme of wildlife discussions will be available to watch online for free as Norfolk Wildlife Trust welcomes some top nature writers to talk about a huge range of wildlife topics.
Presented by NWT’s Wildlife Ambassador, Nick Acheson, the guests include a London orchestra conductor, a wildlife gardener and bee advocate, and the Senior Curator of Diptera at the Natural History Museum, London.
All events are free to join – registration via the NWT website is required ahead of time at
www.cleycalling.com.
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.
NWT Wildlife Ambassador, Nick Acheson, who will present the events said: “Through the upheaval and sadness of 2020, nature has been a comfort and source of inspiration to us all, just as she has been through millennia of human existence. At Norfolk Wildlife Trust we're proud, not only to protect and expand habitat for wildlife, but also to bring you new ways of seeing and interpreting nature, in words, images and film. Rather than abandon our series of discussions with nature authors, thinkers and conservationists during these socially distant times, we've taken them online! Over the rest of this year I will be speaking to Tim Dee, Roy Dennis, Erica McAlister, Lev Parikian, Brigit Strawbridge Howard and Matt Gaw about their recent work and books, in interviews which will be broadcast live on Zoom and later available on YouTube and Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s website.”
The first event is on 13 August, when Nick will speak with
Tim Dee a lifelong birdwatcher and the author of Greenery, The Running Sky, Landfill (about rubbish, gulls, and gullers) and with Simon Armitage The Poetry of Birds.
Following a fortnight later on 27 August is
Roy Dennis sharing a lifetime’s worth of stories from the front lines conservation. His book Restoring the Wild offers eye-opening insights into the complexities of reintroducing extinct animals to Britain including white-tailed sea eagles, ospreys and red kites, as well ongoing work with beavers, lynxes and wolves.
Moving monthly from September, guests include
Erica McAlister, Senior Curator of Diptera at the Natural History Museum, London whose book The Inside Out of Flies introduces the form and function of flies;
Lev Parikian, a London based writer and conductor, who will speak with Nick about Into The Tangled Bank, exploring the idiosyncrasies of our relationship with nature;
Brigit Strawbridge Howard, wildlife gardener and bee advocate on we can do to help pollinators in our gardens; and
Matt Gaw a journalist whose new book Under the Stars, shows how we need only step outside to find that, in darkness, the world lights up.
Cley and Salthouse Marshes visitor centre manager, Ewan Carr added: “The Cley Calling festivals have grown in popularity each year as they encourage people of all ages to engage with wildlife, nature and the creative responses it inspires. Please sign up and enjoy some inspiring and thought-provoking conversations, all of them free of charge.”
The visitor centre at
Cley Marshes reopened partially in mid-July, to offer a takeaway service and restricted toilet and car parking facilities. The Trust hopes to be able to offer some events on site later in the year.