One of Britain’s best-known birders has joined the list of guest speakers at an upcoming bird fair.
Bill Oddie, who became famous as one of The Goodies and went onto present wildlife televisions including Springwatch and Autumnwatch, will be at Pensthorpe Natural Park’s Bird and Wildlife Fair next month.
Mr Oddie, 77, will talk about his lifelong passion for birds at the event, which takes place at the beauty spot near Fakenham on Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19. He will be joined by other naturalists including Simon King and Mike Dilger.
He said: “Pensthorpe has wetlands, woodland, reed beds, farm buildings, ducklings and goslings, swallows, house martins zipping in and out of the barns, and spotted flycatchers nesting in the ivy.
“May is a time when the grass is alive with hundreds of froglets, and at night security lighting attracts moths of all shapes and sizes, and I remember when Mike Dilger and I did a morning moth round. Pensthorpe is the best place to see wildlife and birds, and there is fascination, science and fun.”
Other wildlife programmes Mr Oddie has made for the BBC have included How to Watch Wildlife, Wild In Your Garden, Birding with Bill Oddie, Britain Goes Wild with Bill Oddie.
The fair is being run by the Pensthorpe Conservation Trust, a charity dedicated to creating a centre of excellence in ecological restoration, promoting sustainable farming and researching, breeding and protecting threatened species.
The event aims to bring together experts in the fields of optic equipment, wildlife-inspired arts and crafts, books and nature holidays.
Other talks taking place across the weekend will include The trials and tribulations of a wildlife presenter, Exploring therapeutic benefits of birdwatching for mental health and wellbeing, Project Godwit – Black-tailed godwits and the race to save them, and Conservation in Norfolk: bringing back the wild to our lives.
Admission to the fair costs £8 per person, with children under three and members going free.
Dogs except guide dogs are not allowed into the main reserve.
For more information or to book tickets visit pensthorpe.com/birdfair or call 01328 851465.
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