BatChat Chris Packham on Bats, Bills and the Battle for Britain’s Wildlife
Nov 5, 2025
Chris Packham, a renowned wildlife presenter and passionate conservationist, discusses pressing issues in wildlife protection. He reveals the alarming risks of the Planning & Infrastructure Bill on bat conservation and urges unity among nature organizations. Chris shares insights from his recent filming at Springwatch and the potential of technology in monitoring bat populations. He emphasizes treating NGO memberships as investments for nature and highlights successful rewilding efforts as beacons of hope. The conversation is both informative and empowering, urging action for wildlife.
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Use Art To Engage And Fundraise
- Use fast, bold art forms to engage people; Packham makes paper cuts and will release a calendar.
- Artistic projects can fundraise and raise awareness quickly and accessibly.
Unity Needs A Clear Political Target
- Large peaceful marches can unify diverse groups but often fail without a clear, shared political target.
- Packham believes Restore Nature Now lacked a collective mission and so limited political impact.
Housing Policy Is Misframed
- The housing crisis is about affordability and land banking, not lack of planning permission.
- Building on greenfield sites eats the UK carbon budget and harms habitats unnecessarily.
