In February and March, 2025, Wildscreen is taking some of their greatest hits of Wildscreen Festival on the road to share with new communities across the South West and beyond.
What a year! 2024 brought with it a whole host of inspiring new projects, events, partnerships and more to Wildscreen’s door, plus the return of some fan favourites. Join us as we look back on some of our top highlights…
12 finalists of Wildscreen ARK’s 2024 Youth Film and Photography Competition were celebrated at a special event, hosted by Steve Backshall, during last month’s Wildscreen Festival 2024.
1. Tell us a bit about your role!
I’m the programme manager for Wildscreen ARK – which involves managing the development and licencing of Wildscreen’s newest content and education platform.
2. What’s your background? How did you get to where you are today?
Funny you asked! I worked for Wildscreen a LONG time ago as a media researcher. I took 11 years out as a science teacher and have come back to the fold! It’s been a circuitous route but I don’t think I could do what I’m doing today without that experience.
4. If you could change one thing about the natural history industry, what would it be?
I’d make it more accessible to everyone. I am very lucky to have parents and grandparents that loved nature, so I’ve always felt connected with it and understood its value. There are many people who aren’t so lucky and see it with separation, or indifference, or fear – which is risky for nature, and for us.
5. What are your career goals?
Leave whatever I apply myself to, better than I found it.
6. Favourite moment working at Wildscreen?
They say you should never meet your heroes, but I remember dancing next to a barefoot Michaela Strachan at the Panda Awards. She can really move!
7. What’s your favourite story from nature?
A personal one but a good one – my grandpa was a beekeeper, and I remember walking with him when I was about 7, along a Lincolnshire field buzzing with insects and flowers. He got me to stroke the fur of this white-tailed bumblebee, which was incredibly soft. I think it was the first time I let go of other people’s feelings about nature (“bees sting!”) and was curious, connected with and respectful of it.
