Meet our members: Nick Ostler

Emma Chaplin
, 03 July 2023
Meet our members: Nick Ostler
Nick Ostler with Elephant Hawk-moth

Tell us a bit about yourself

I live in Plumpton with my wife and two sons, and I'm a scriptwriter for comedy and children's animations, such as Danger Mouse and Octonauts. I try to sneak wildlife into my scripts wherever possible. I've also co-written a series of adventure books for children called Defender of the Realm that are being adapted for TV.

I grew up in the East Midlands. My parents were teachers and we lived in a flat at the school, with access to the huge grounds. I spent a lot of time looking at wildlife there. Aged eight, I did a school project on birds and became obsessed with them. It was my main interest for years. I particularly love owls and feel very lucky that I can hear Tawny Owls at night from our house.

Whenever we’re lucky enough to go abroad on holiday I’ll try to hire a local guide for a day. My most memorable birding moment was in Norway, where I came face to face with an enormous Eagle Owl in daylight flying across a fjord straight towards me.

Brown Hairstreak © Nick Ostler
Brown Hairstreak © Nick Ostler

Tell us about what you've done in your garden to make it wildlife friendly

We moved here three years ago from Lewes and we are lucky to have a decent-sized garden surrounded by Beech hedges. We've planted to attract pollinators, we've left some areas completely wild, we put out food and water for our Hedgehogs. We've added bird boxes, a Swift box (optimistically – it’s currently occupied by Sparrows, but that’s fine!) bee hotels and wood piles. This year we finally added a pond. We get so much wildlife here. I’ve recorded hundreds of species - birds, butterflies, moths, bees, beetles, bats and our resident colony of Bank Voles.

Scarce Silverlines © Nick Ostler
Scarce Silverlines © Nick Ostler

What are you most proud of?

It can be very exciting and rewarding being a scriptwriter, but it can also be very frustrating. So I guess I'm proudest that I'm still doing it! Ironically the script I’m probably most proud of is a feature film I've written with my writing partner and a director, which we’re still trying to get made after many years.

One of our resident Hedgehogs
One of our resident Hedgehogs

You like photographing wildlife?

Yes, but I only ever use my iPhone, which means I only tend to photograph insects. But it makes it so much easier to ID what you've seen later if you've got a good photo, and it’s how I learned to identify butterflies, moths and bees. Moth trapping has become my biggest wildlife obsession. Recently I’ve started using an ID app - ObsIdentify -which can really speed thing up, and I also ask very generous experts for help on Twitter. But I still use field guides a lot as well.

Chalk paths below Blackcap © Nick Ostler
Chalk paths below Blackcap © Nick Ostler

What are your favourite wild spaces in Sussex?

I love the walk from here to Blackcap, up a chalk path where you can see Chalkhill Blues and Small Blues as well as orchids. Also, Ashcombe Bottom is such a special place.

Adonis Blue © Nick Ostler
Adonis Blue © Nick Ostler

When did you become a Trust member and why?

As a child we'd go to Wildlife Trust reserves in Norfolk, so I've been aware of the Wildlife Trusts all my life. When we moved down here, I joined Sussex Wildlife Trust straight away. It's the right thing to do.

Follow Nick’s Instagram account @theveryamateurnaturalist

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