Nature and me

Emma Chaplin
, 17 November 2020
Nature and me

By Mya Bambrick

Winner of the David Streeter Award 2020

After I picked up a camera and some binoculars at the age of eight, wildlife has become a real passion for me. Despite living in urban Crawley, I was so intrigued at the garden birds that would come to the peanut feeder in my very small garden. Since that initial spark of interest ten years ago, the world of British wildlife, especially birds, has been a world I have immersed myself fully in. As I’ve been lucky enough to see first-hand how wonderful nature is, I’ve always felt the need to intrigue and enthuse other people so they can see this too, especially children and teenagers. 

Mya Bambrick Robin web

Robin by Mya Bambrick

It’s not only an interest which is full of wonders but one which can offer so much more, like benefits to physical and mental wellbeing. 

I’m also fully aware of the barriers young people may face when trying to access nature and the countryside, such as public transport. However, over the last few years I’ve harnessed the power of social media to share my wildlife photos and blogs. I’ve also become an ambassador for the Cameron Bespolka Trust, a fantastic charity which aims to engage young people with nature through sponsoring and setting up events, competitions, and next year will have its very own residential building in the heart of the New Forest, called Cameron’s Cottage. 

Recently, despite initial nerves and not liking being in front of the camera (I’m used to being behind it), I started filming my own vlogs, virtually taking people on my local wildlife walks and talking about different nature topics. Alongside this, I am a trainee bird ringer, amateur wildlife photographer, sometimes write articles for wildlife magazines, and I’m in my second year of a-levels! I really hope I can help enthuse all people to get outdoors and surround themselves in nature, its exactly what we all need at the moment. 

Mya's bird blog

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