www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

If you've not read this - you should

http://markavery.info/2012/12/11/guest- ... ay-whilde/

Cheers,

- Pete

Well that got me going ...

Thanks for sharing Pete. I hope many people read this and then go on to look at Findlay's excellent and thought provoking blog.

http://wildeaboutbirds.blogspot.co.uk

Great stuff Findlay; I hope the world doesn't let us down ...

Very thought provoking and a little heartening.
I must say my interest in the natural world was always an 'undercurrent' but was spurred on, in the late sixties, by a junior school teacher who took a small group of us birdwatching at the weekends in her own time. I question whether that would even be allowed now judging by the number of risk assessments I had to sign when my own kids have been on recent school trips?
However I am not sure it was 'cool' even back in the day to be interested in nature. I can remember being very coy at my senior school when it came to divulging my interests in butterflies and birds in case i was accused of being a bit weird [perhaps I am ] - you had to be interested in rock bands or football to be cool
Its great, and I do find it heartening, that Findlay has developed his own interest and long may it continue and it is a shame that more kids do not appear to be enthused by the natural world - but have we not always been in the minority?
Interesting discussion

Society has changed and there are now far too many reasons for staying in the house.

In the early 70s there were just 3 TV channels, no videos/games and no internet.

Young people had to 'play out' and by doing so this brought them into contact with the natural world and fascinations for wild things often followed.