This post is the third in a new interview series looking at Science and Nature communication through different media in Ireland
This week I talk with Michael Bell, owner of Nature Learn, to find out about his life as a nature educator in Ireland and his path into such a career.
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| Image credit: Michael Bell of Nature Learn |
Michael Bell is an experienced wildlife educator with a background in conservation research and education. In 2009 Michael set up his own business, Nature Learn, to bring toschool children and adults alike the wonder of nature, using a combination of interactive presentations, field study and hands-on activities, to foster an awareness and appreciation of the environment that exists around them. Michael is a listed specialist with the Heritage in Schools Scheme, a member and local treasurer of BirdWatch Ireland, exercises a keen interest in Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), and enjoys the outdoors with his wife Kate and eco-friendly daughter Molly, in Ballymote, Co. Sligo.
I have always been interested in nature, from as early as I can remember really. Growing up in Belfast my father would take me and my brother out on walks and carried binoculars and a bird guide and I developed a keen interest in bird watching. I remember joining the Young Ornithologists’ Club (the junior wing of the RSPB) when still in primary school and doing monthly surveys along Millisle Beach looking for washed up sea birds.
After university I worked in London for a year before heading off travelling and settling in Georgia, USA for 24 years. I did all kinds of jobs in America but ended up working in ecological research for several years as a field technician doing everything from collecting soil and leaf samples to catching and releasing snakes. As I didn’t have a biology degree I was always on temporary contracts and on the bottom rung. Nevertheless, I really did enjoy my time at this sort of work. I was also involved with the Georgia Ornithological Society as a volunteer and kept the Field Notes of all the relevant bird reports for a few years as well as leading walks for a local nature centre. I also published a book ‘The Breeding Birds of Haralson County’ about the birds in the locality where I was living.
During this time I met my wife Kate, a native Floridian, and our daughter Molly was born in 2002. We decided to make the move back (for me) to Ireland in 2005 and settled in Co. Sligo (just because I thought it was the nicest looking part of the country) where I was able to find temporary work with the National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) as an Education Officer. This was my first experience working with children and I admit I was terrified at the prospect when I started but soon learned to love it. I, along with a couple of colleagues, developed a nature programme for schools from scratch. I did this job for two or three years, again on temporary contracts, and while I loved working in the schools I found some of the mindless red tape involved in working in NPWS very frustrating.
What is Nature Learn all about?
Nature Learn brings to school children and adults alike the wonder of nature using a combination of educational materials, interactive presentations, field studies and hands-on activities to foster an appreciation and awareness of the environment that exists around them.
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| Image credit: Michael Bell of Nature Learn |
This is something I have been doing more of recently. Several Tidy Towns groups have asked me to design nature signs. As I like my signs to depict flora and fauna that is of particular interest in a certain area, it can often involve quite a bit of research. I also like to use my own photographs where possible, though I do have some friends that are good enough to provide excellent images when required. I do take a lot of care in designing the signs as it really bugs me to see nature signs that have incorrect information or feature wildlife that has nothing to do with the area in question. I have also to date produced three nature education booklets (Minibeasts, Irish Birdsand Biodiversity) that are aimed at school children. As I have been fortunate enough to get funding to cover printing costs to date, I always give a free copy of one of my booklets to all the children that I teach. Just recently I got the children at Summerhill College in Athlone to provide art material and text for a pamphlet on local wildlife and this is something I would like to repeat with other schools in the future.
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| The beautiful Elephant Hawkmoth Image credit: Michael Bell of Nature Learn |
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| Molly studying a Pale Tussock; Image credit: Michael Bell of Nature Learn |
Molly’s first word was “bird” so I like to think I haven’t totally brain-washed her and that she was born with a love of animals! From the age of five or six she has watched David Attenborough programmes over and over and takes it all in. Most of her friends last about 30 seconds before getting bored. I hope she keeps up her interest in nature as she will have a fantastic knowledge of wildlife as an adult. To study wildlife really enhances one’s life. I guess that will be up to her though. Like many teenagers, I did become less interested in nature at that stage but it did come back to me in later years.
And the final word….
And what are you hopes for the future of Nature Learn?
I just hope I am able to continue doing what I do in the future and I hope Nature Learn can inspire others to gain an awareness, appreciation and concern for the natural world.
Michael can be contacted at (085) 1751000 or (071) 9197926 for school visits, talks, signs or other wildlife related matters. Or you can e-mail Michael at Nature.Learn1@gmail.com .
Nature Learn’s Facebook page is a favourite of mine, you can check it out at: www.facebook.com/naturelearn .
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