Charities

Chris Packham

Ambassador for Northumberland Wildlife Trust

Chris Packham is one of the most popular and passionate presenters of conservational and environmental programmes in the UK.

Chris says: "I am delighted to award this cheque from the People's Postcode Lottery to the Northumberland Wildlife Trust, in support of their fantastic work with people and wildlife in the North East. This funding is really making a difference."

Biography

Chris was born in Southampton in 1961 and as soon as he was crawling around suburbia Ladybirds were being desiccated in matchboxes and tadpoles tortured in jam jars. Husbandry skills improved and the menagerie expanded to large collections of reptiles (inside) and birds of prey, foxes, badgers, squirrels etc (generally outside). A precocious young scientist, he studied kestrels, shrews and badgers in his teens and undergraduate days at the Zoology department of Southampton University.

Post graduation and a cancelled PhD, he began taking still photographs and trained as a wildlife film cameraman. The photography continues with exhibitions and invitations to judge prestigious competitions but the camerawork gave way to presenting. Chris began with the award winning Really Wild Show in 1986 and has been working ever since. Credits include, Wildshots, Wild Watch, Go Wild, X-Creatures, Postcards from the Wild, Hands on Nature and most recently Nature's Calendar.

In March 2009, Chris was announced as the new host of BBC's Springwatch and Autumnwatch programs.