Visiting Professor Chris Packham Lends His Voice to Global Insect Crisis and Urges Young People to Make Friends With Bugs

In response to recent news of declining numbers in global insect populations, naturalist, TV presenter and Visiting Professor Chris Packham shares his thoughts and urges the next generation to be a voice for the Earth’s future.

“By dying at an alarming rate insects are showing us the effect of pesticides on the life blood of the planet’s ecosystems. By not dying – splattered on windscreens on long trips down the M1 – they are localising the message.

“A huge loss of species on Earth has happened five times in the last 4bn years but this time humans are the cause. It probably seems too big to do something about. But there are things we can do and while they might not have a direct effect now, they could show our children all that there is to wonder about in nature and protect it for the future. If children teach us anything it’s that they have a voice and a power proven by the thousands of school children staging climate change protests today (15th February 2019).

“This is one of those moments in time where action is the only way. Action on the part of huge companies to stop what they are doing is the thing that will make the difference but there is something in harnessing our individual power to give something back to our environment rather than constantly demanding something from it – food, motorways, buildings and money.  Get children into the garden and out into nature to make friends with all manner of wildlife – including bugs. Start their journey to be a voice for the Earth’s future.”