Have you ever wondered where your love of wildlife originally came from? Why is it that some people have such a passion for the environent and countryside and others couldn't care less about it?

Obviously people have different opinions on everything, but I think that once you get hooked on the outdoors, you never look back. I do feel sorry for children that grow up in cities and never get to see the countryside, as I think my passion arose, like many members, as a child living in the countryside. My parents always enjoyed walks and pointing out the widlife, so it was only natural for me to enjoy it too. If there was anyone that I could say gave me my passion, it would be my parents.

How about you?

Although I wouldn't say my family have ever been interested in wildlife all that much I've always been taught to care about my environment. I guess it all sprung from there. Whether people like it or not wildlife is part of our everyday environment so why not appreciate it?
I feel passionate about it because I know how we treat it effects us too.

That is a really good question. I've always wondered why some people don't care less about nature and the environment and others are so passionate for it. And I definitly agree about what you say about being hooked. I've only started to appreciate wildlife and the countryside in the last 2 years or so and I have never had a dull moment as far as wildlife is concerned since then.

I have to say that watching big cats and listening to people like Sir David Attenborough made me become interested in it. My famly members were never really wildlife enthusiasts so I guess The interest just came upon me.

My grandad was a man of the countryside and I would say that he really appreciated it even though he did take the odd rabbit or pheasent, but when he was growing up there wasn't a lot of money around so he had to do it for food. Sadly though, he died a couple of years ago and I would love to be able to talk to him about what he encountered in th countryside, I would say he had many stories to tell.

Nature or Nuture!

I think its an inbuilt thing but far too many people are deprived of it nowadays!

I would much rather watch the birds than the TV, but thousands wouldnt.

Definitely from my father. He was quite a fanatic about bird watching, and was endlessly fascinated by the new birds, plants, animals, and even the rocks he found here in the United States.

Kingfisher

I think it definitely helps if you grow up in the countryside, then you can really appreciate what goes on in nature because you see it every day. David Attenborough has also been in inspiration to me, his passion for wildlife really comes across in his programs.

I think that I am the other way. I grew up in an urban town (although a little backwater terraced street) & felt I had arrived when I found my present abode after 3 other moves. I feel that sometimes being in an urban area makes you appreciate more what you get. So my conclusion is , no matter where you live , it must be in you whether you like the environment, not your genes or where you live as you can still be pro-environment even if you live in the tiniest flat in the most industrial area.

That's also very true, I do know people who have lived in a city all their lives, and when they managed to get away from it and move into the country they absolutely the freedom and fresh feel of it.

Also cities contain a lot of wildlife too, you just have to know where to look

I think there should be more encouragement towards younger people about wildlife, particuarly those who live in urban areas. (Perhaps in schools?) Unless this topic is addressed, why would these children need to think about it. Certainly I was one of these children, but luckily I was generally interested in wildlife anyway.
I'm not suggesting that we force passion upon people who don't find it interesting, but certainly we need to make them aware.

To the above, maybe by starting school clubs, because as a 13 year old, I wouldn't like the idea of EVERYONE having to do something I liked, because it wouldn't make me feel different, but, if there was clubs in school,s or trips, or people visiting in, it could get more people interested, without EVERYONE interested.

I think that when a school makes a wildlife pond or garden the children are always genuinely interested especially when it come to the life cycle of a frog etc. I know it sounds simple but I really believe that.
My son went on an ecology day for 5 weeks at 4 other schools + including his own where each of the schools hosted the event for one day. He was at junior school of the time & it the children were invited under the 'gifted & talented scheme' . My son whilst neither of those academically, showed a talent & an understanding of wild creatures so he was chosen. It was also used as a booster for those under achieving children & they had each to be nominated to take part. I remember one of the things they had to do ,was to each have a plant pot stuffed with straw & a week later they had to count & catalogue the speciaes of insects that they had in their plant pots. He loved it. Insects were his forte , was before & he is still to this day interested in them.

Tibbar, you don't know of anything in the secondary schools to do with natur and birdwatching, do you? More importantly, Year 9?

hello
my love of wildlife began at avery early age because we lived in a remote house and there was only the countryside to play in,it is only now i realise how lucky i was picking primroses in spring, fishing for stikclebacks and newts,collecting catapillars and watching them turn in to butterflies,etc saddly few youngsters now adays are interested in any thing like this

I think I became interested in wildlife through going out with my dad, who liked birdwatching. Though I've lived in a city all my life, I'm lucky to live in quite a 'green' one - lots of parkland, and not too far to go to get to the open countryside.

I think kids are generally interested in their environment and what's in it anyway, and often all it takes is a bit of ecouragement.