You might remember me mentioning the rather remarkable Eva - the young girl who had taken harvest mice to her heart and started breeding them for release into the wild?
Please pop over to THIS VERSION of the update so you can join in - and see more photos!
You may also remember that I talked about her plans for the future - Wild Pets.
Now, with most young people, you could be forgiven for thinking that this was just a flight of fancy - but Eva is not a very good example of that (already unfair) generalisation! And on Wednesday 7th October WILD PETS is launching as a real thing!
The plan - to find 20 other Devon-based children to raise harvest mice at home, for release into the wild in September 2027.
When I spoke with Eva she told me how she felt sorry for traditional pets, like hamsters and goldfish, stuck in cages and bowls. Now 14, Eva is very aware of the damage that we have caused to the natural world, and believes that Wild Pets is a way of not just helping a species, but getting young people actively involved.
‘Our future is very scary at the moment,’ she said, ‘so doing something positive, even though it’s only a tiny project with tiny creatures, makes me feel a lot better.’
Just take a pause - think for a moment how horrible it is that Eva feels that way.
I understand how she feels - when I was a little older than her I joined CND, fearing the threat of imminent annihilation from the inadequate world leaders waggling their nuclear weapons at each other, trying to prove who was more of a man than the other.
Naively, I hoped that maybe we had learned from that.
Back to Eva - she is working with the renegade conservationist, Derek Gow. Anyone who applies to become part of this mission will have to write 500 words and make a short film, explaining why they are so passionate about wildlife and nature. Then those selected will attend a training course at Derek’s centre before being given a pair of mice to look after at home.
Having spent quite a bit of time with Eva, I am not in the least bit surprised that this is only the start of a bigger plan. She hopes that Wild Pets will be able to expand - not just geographically but also with the species - the missing wildlife that should be common in our landscape - she has her eyes on common lizards, stag beetles, mole crickets, tree frogs and glow worms …
Chris Packham said ‘It’s so inspirational when young people think of an idea and then make it happen. It’s so so important. What I like about young people doing things is that they think clearly, speak clearly and they get things done. Top work Eva and Emily (Eva’s co-conspirator!). This is a really brilliant, brilliant project.’
If you thought that Eva was an extraordinary young person, you would be quite correct. But there is more! She is an actor too … there was a small speaking role in the Oscar-winning movie, Hamnet (Did you watch it? Did you cry? I did) - and is playing Martha Crotchet in Johny Depp’s upcoming film, Ebenezer.
So - please - spread the word to all potential Wild Pet-ters in Devon, and keep an eye on this … I believe it could grow and grow!
And now back to the mundane … sorry I have been a bit quite of late, but a flurry of photography jobs, that help keep me and my eco-writing afloat, bounced into my life. I am so lucky to be able to get into some of the most gorgeous buildings in Oxford, hang out there as people sing beautifully, and take photos. If you pop over to the Substack version you will see a few of these images.
Other things that are on the horizon, I am talking in London, in Chiswick, on 14th October.
And, rather scarily, I have foolishly said yes to performing in a comedy club - in Eastbourne on Saturday 17th October.
Organised by the delightful Jo Neary - I am opening for the utterly brilliant Robin Ince. No pressure there - no, none at all … nothing to worry about …
(Why do I insist on doing this to myself????)
Photo by Karen Robinson