TV STUFF THAT'S COMING UP
FEBRUARY 2010
Weird Creatures III
It's finally happening this side of the pond too! Yep, after what seems like forever (we finished filming this series way back in July 2009) Weird Creatures series 3 arrives in the UK. It starts as the above flyer suggests this Thursday the 11th of February - I will be updating this site with behind the scenes pics and stories over the next 2 months so keep coming back for the latest. As usual I welcome your comments, feedback and questions. You can reach me via the forum on this site or my Twitter account (@bugboy) - I hope you enjoy it.
For those of you who want to know what this series is all about check out the You Tube sizzle reel here - www.youtube.com/watch
Field Studies Council Courses 2010
What is a pooter and how do you use it? How do you Sugar a moth, feed a bat, tickle a spider and pish a bird? For answers to these and other equally unlikely (but relevant) questions - join me with the FSC on a "Watching Wildlife with Nick Baker" course.
I've been running these friendly and informal family courses for many years (over 10) based at Flatford Mill (that of Constable Hay Wain) and this year as well as continuing here at Flatford I'm actually running one on my home turf here in Devon. South Devon to be precise, on the stunning bit of coast line in which the Slapton Ley field studies Centre sits.
The aim of these courses is to enthuse and empower with knowledge the younger generation (and Mums, Dads, Aunts and Grannies). We will be covering as many skills and techniques needed by a Naturalist as we can and hopefully seeing plenty of wildlife as well.
The dates:
Flatford Mill - 23rd - 26th July 2010
Slapton Ley - 2nd - 6th of August 2010 and 30th August - 3rd September 2010
Nick Baker's Wildlife Explorer Kits (Interplay)
For years my mate, and seahorse guru, Neil Garrick-Maidment and I have been looking at the educational toys for kids on the market. We have continually found ourselves totally amazed at what rubbish is sold to children under the guise of a good educational toy. So we figured why not look at equipment we would use ourselves and see if we could design a box full of good, but affordable, gadgets without gimmicks, batteries or small bits that get lost or plastic bits that drop off!
The results of the collaboration between us and cool and forward thinking "educational toy" manufacturer INTERPLAY are now on the shelves and consist of three kits; Animal Tracking Explorer Kit, Bug Hunting Explorer Kit and a Pond and Rock Pool Explorer Kit.
They were designed with young naturalists in mind (although they are also great for teachers and frustrated parents desperate to moderate the use of the household games console).
Neil and I are currently designing further Kits, with Interplay, aimed at young naturalists including a brand new take on the highly successful "Worm World" and "Ant Town", plus flat pack bird and bug boxes - so watch this space!
Click on the link to take you to 'my shop'.
The Weird Creature Project
It has been a long running obsession of mine to create a living exhibit. I do not use the word zoo. This is deliberate because although this exhibit does contain living creatures, the mere mention of the word zoo conjures up very specific mental images and therefore expectations. Despite its title, it is not to be confused with the TV series of a similar name (see above). Although the overall remit is similar - to stick up for the uglies and the less often mentioned denizens of our planet.
I am collaborating with Neil Garrick-Maidment (he of seahorse fame) in the search for a site and funding to get the project up and running. Things are progressing slowly and with activities having been on ice the last year due to unforseable circumstances as well as a heavy filming schedule, we soon to be back in action again.
We are currently looking for a site in the west country and although we have a potential location we are still very much open for suggestions as nothing has been set in stone as yet.
Watch this space for details.