Simon King presents free open lecture at Mammal Society Spring Conference

Wildlife cameraman, naturalist and TV presenter Simon King will be delivering the opening talk at the Mammal Society’s Spring conference, to be held at Robinson College Cambridge from the 31^st March – 2^nd April 2016.  Simon’s talk will take place on Friday 31^st  March at 7pm and is free and open to the public.

Simon’s talk, “Nature Watch – How to track and observe wildlife” will explain his own tried and tested techniques for watching wildlife, providing ideas on how we can all get to know our local wildlife better. Simon is well known for presenting Springwatch and Big Cat Diary. He is also a wildlife photographer and film maker, and has been involved with award winning documentaries including Blue Planet and Planet Earth. He is also a dedicated follower of the wildlife in his own garden in the UK.  His charity, the Simon King Wildlife Project, is dedicated to turning the tide against the loss of natural habitats. Simon will also introduce his  new book Nature Watch, and signed copies will be available to purchase.

Simon will also be presenting the awards for the Mammal Society’s Mammal Photographer of the Year Competition.  The winning photographs will be available to view at the event.

The Mammal Society’s 63^rd Spring Conference will then continue through Saturday and Sunday.  Highlights will include Cambridge University’s own Bill Sutherland, who will be giving the plenary lecture explaining the need to improve wildlife conservation by making scientific evidence more freely available.

Fiona Mathews, Chair of the Mammal Society, said, “Simon’s programmes have brought millions of people closer to nature.  As we watch amazing footage of big cats or zebra, it is easy to forget that wildlife is also all around us here in the UK.  We live in one of the most densely populated countries of the world, and many of our native animals are in serious trouble.  So I am delighted that Simon is going to be sharing his secrets of how to see the wildlife under our noses.”

More details about the Cranbrook lecture and tickets for the Mammal Society Spring Conference can be found online at http://www.mammal.org.uk/events/the-mammal-society-63rd-spring-conference-agm/. Simon’s talk is free of charge and although there is no need to book a place, seating will be limited and so places will be allocated first come first served. Arrival at Robinson college at 6.45pm is encouraged in order to make the most of the Mammal Photographer of the Year exhibition. Simon’s book, Nature Watch is also available from www.simonkingwildlife.com.

ENDS

Editor’s notes

1. The Mammal Society promotes evidence-based conservation. It delivers training courses to professionals and members of the public (www.mammal.org.uk/training/courses); produces good practice conservation and mitigation handbooks; and undertakes scientific research to improve conservation.  It is currently conducting the official review of the conservation status and population size of British mammals for the English, Scottish and Welsh governments.  Its Mammal Atlas, which tracks the change in mammal distribution over the last 20 years, will be published in late 2017.
2. The Mammal Photographer of the Year competition attracts over 300 entries from amateur photographers. Last year’s winning photos can be viewed at http://www.mammal.org.uk/2016/03/the-2016-mammal-photographer-of-the-year-winners-are-announced-2/
3. For more information please contact Charlotte Marshall at the Mammal Society on media@themammalsociety.org, 02380010985 or 07891495854.